We traveled to Blowing Rock, NC to visit friends and to explore the area - what I didn't know is that our friends live only a few hundred yards from this beautiful marvel in a cliff side home over-looking the beautiful valley below. The Blowing Rock itself is an immense cliff 4,000 feet above sea-level overhanging John's River Gorge 3,000 feet below. I've read the legends of this rock and my friends have told me during the winter storms the snow blows upward from the cliffs and from their back porch the snow rises from the valley and appears to fall upward. The air currents that flow upward prompted scientists to surmise this location is "the only place in the world where snow falls upside down". I climbed up the blowing rock that protrudes over the valley to get the best view possible and felt the breeze rising upward, it was pretty cool while a little unnerving at the same time, I admit it was a crawl to the very edge and not a place I felt comfortable standing it's very steep and treacherous in my opinion. The entire facility is well maintained and the staff here was very friendly and knowledgeable. They have a snack bar with outdoor tables and a nice gift shop. On the day we arrived there were several artists with their canvases painting the blowing rock and backdrop. There's plenty of parking and as beautiful as it is I think allowing less than an hour here is more than enough time to see it all and explore the observation platform and hiking trails... read more

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I went here for the penny, I have to admit but I'm glad that I did. The views are stunning from the observation area. It was beyond foggy the day we went, they warned us before we paid but I wanted to press on. The gift shop is nice and has literally something for everyone. The properly has 3 kitties roaming around. The rock itself is sorta a gimmick but the story behind it is full of culture and myth. The property is VERY well maintained and beautiful. There is a small cafe/snack shop halfway to the observation tower. There are some stars but also a ramp. There is a view finder for a few quarters on the deck you can make use of. The paths are short and this place is pretty accessible. I really liked the gem room too it was very interesting, there is also a tiny museum with some history and artifacts. Blowing rock is pet friendly!! read more

The Blowing Rock - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Blowing Rock, North Carolina

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This is a piece of the areas history worth visiting. It is not free but they keep it up beautifully with nice walkways, a small garden, a few overlook points, a small museum with pictures and rocks/gemstones. They have a place to purchase a light lunch like hot dogs, ice cream, soda with tables and chairs near. The bathrooms is probably the worst part, you go down some old stone steps and they have two small stalls, it's kind of claustrophobic. read more

The Blowing Rock - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Blowing Rock, North Carolina

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Definitely a tourist trap, and absolutely not worth having *any* kind of entrance fee - let alone something like $9/per person. It's a large-ish (I guess?) rock coming out from the cliff area the trail exists on. Honestly, you know what? It's not even large. I expected it would be much larger. It takes about 2 seconds to climb up and get a photo. There's a short trail on the underside of the blowing rock as well... and then there's a short trail (maybe 50 feet?) to an observation deck-type platform where you can see the mountains without much of an obstruction. There's a little turtle pond on your way back to the main building, and I think there's one other little bitty trail that leads to something that I apparently decided at the time didn't even matter - because I have no idea wtf it was. Honestly, the only reason I'm not giving this place a single star is because the walkways are nicely maintained and it's fairly friendly for children or, as I did, bringing elderly grandmother's who have a bit of trouble walking (but for some reason are themselves insistent on visiting this place). TL;DR In Blowing Rock (the town) itself and figured stopped at the Blowing Rock (the rock) was kinda an obligatory part of the visit... but my gawd, definitely a tourist trap. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone, honestly, unless you find it necessary to just check off "to visit" list for the sake of it. read more

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The views in my photos are pretty, but you can find that all throughout NC/Virginia, etc for FREE. This place is a tourist trap. I initially went in under the impression it was free due to what I was told by a friend (it seems like it used to be), only to find out it's now $9 to get in. $9 is not expensive, but I think it is for what you get. I finished walking the whole thing in less than 10 minutes. The gift shop is nice, but everything is overly priced. Since I wasn't impressed with the place, I didn't feel like purchasing a sweater (it was cold) that said Blowing Rock for $80. I went to Bryson City, NC a month later and it was a much better experience, with better gift shop prices. read more

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Don't go, it is nothing special and it cost money. Unless you just want to use their restroom .$9 per person. T shirts from this little private rock is about $33. Come on man. The family is really milking this place. It is a tourist trap. Rock formation is tiny. There is an nicely built old Indian trail by the cliff you can try. Also there is an extended overlook you can get a good view of the valley and grandfather mountain. But then you can also get the same at Wheelies or blue ridge parkway read more

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This is probably a tourist trap! It costs about $9 per person. That's a lot for what you get. There are basically no trails; all you get is to see the Blowing Rock (with a bunch of other people). The Blowing Rock is a cool historical spot, but I don't think it should cost money. Especially not $9! There are so many other cool historical things to do in the area and views to see for free. However, this might be a good choice for people with mobility issues. You can see some cool views without much hiking, which is great if that is what you are looking for! read more

The Blowing Rock - Entrance - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Blowing Rock, North Carolina

Staff was very friendly. The price of admission wasn't horrible for me as others are saying ($9), but I do sure with the gift shop prices. They were ridiculous. There is a little snack bar and items were not overpriced. It was great to sit and eat with s gorgeous view. Easy to get to and free parking. read more

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The blowing rock Not much wind today. Warm and calm. What I like about this place is that everything is close. You don't have to climb a steep hill or cross a deep river. Simple. Beautiful rock! Good shop. Awesome pictures! Highly recommended read more

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Ok, I should have read the previous reviews but hey, when in Rome right? We had a small dog with us and he loved it, mainly because it was a very short walk in the shade and there were several other dogs to meet. We were there in late September and despite it being afternoon 1:00pm, there was so much fog, we couldn't see anything from the overlook. The rock was, well a rock that I wasn't about to climb upon but apparently people do. I did enjoy reading about the legend of the blowing rock. Other than that, we weren't impressed and literally spent 20 minutes before heading back to the car $18 poorer ($9/ticket and I think seniors were $7 and children were $5). The prices in the gift shop were high in my opinion. Most of the people visiting were at the cafe/restaurant sitting outside but we didn't check it out. read more

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OK, so here's the thing, local legends have a way of growing as they age... some become more touching, others more insightful or inspiring. I would not be at all surprised if the narrative utterly collapses to this with the retelling: ...long, long ago there was a tavern on the cliff overlooking the valley below. so one night two new york city slickers were admiring the scenery over a few craft brews and one guy remarks, "this is an amazing place; on a breezy night like tonight you can step off the cliff and the wind will catch you and bring you right back here to the top." "preposterous!!" replies the other. so the first guy steps off the cliff and it happens just like he said: falls, slows, and then rises back to the edge. the other guy is amazed so he too steps off the edge... and as he plummets earthward the bartender turns and says, "superman, you're a mean drunk." anyway, the trinkets in the gift shop are reasonably priced, parking is free, and the views are nice. will you see a different valley than elsewhere in town? nope, but a slightly different view, because, well, you know... parallax. but the actual real story here is kinda cute in an old-timey way and a refreshing pause from the daily grind. so four stars for whimsy and whirl and happy endings from a better place and time. yea :-) if all you want to do is complain about how you missed the entire point of this place (it's about the blowing not the rock, please pay attention to all the signage and read the informational bits with the story too) there's a place for that. that place isn't here at the Blowing Rock so please, just stay away and be you somewhere else. read more

Quick overlook attraction Blowing Rock . Pretty nice view .. short but lot steps trail with dead end and cant see anything. Food and beverages also gift shop. The view is probably better then the rocks . Worth it to go see it when u drive by but not when u have to travel to see it .. read more

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Save your money, some nice views but not worth the admission price. They tried to add some staircase trails around the mountain but really not much to do once you see the rock. This is not a hike, just a tourist trap. read more

The Blowing Rock - Blowing Rock - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Blowing Rock, North Carolina

Complete rip-off. We drove out to the Blowing Rock on our recent vacation to NC and we're extremely underwhelmed at this attraction. $9 per person to see a rock formation, walk a trail that took about 5 from start to finish, and see a few pictures of North Carolina's history was a letdown to say the least. There is an observation area with an unobscured view of the mountains (there are binoculars that you have to pay additional 25 cents to use), but nothing that you can't see from other areas on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Nothing special at all, would not waste my money again. The only reason I'm giving 2 stars instead of 1 is because the paths and grounds were relatively upkept and the gift shop was expensive but nice. read more

They offer a military discount. Huge plus! When you enter you can walk immediately to a viewing area. Blowing rock is off to the left. We had no issues with climbing and capturing photos. There are trails to go below and an additional observation deck with great panoramic views. There is a snack shop that offers ice cream and popcorn. There wasn't much else to view other than Blowing Rock (meaning actual rock) but glad we took our kiddos. read more

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Not really that impressive. Same gorgeous Mountain View's from many free scenery look outs.

2.5 stWe resisted the hype during our last visit to the Blue Ridge Parkway but gave into it this time. I was a bit underwhelmed as I was expecting a rock off in the distance that would make for great scenic photos. But you encounter "The Blowing Rock" almost as soon as you walk out the door onto the trail. Photo worthy- yes but just not what I was expecting. The admission price of $7 ($6 for seniors plus other military and child discounts) is not totally unreasonable but almost so. Don't go if you are expecting a peaceful hike in the woods. Also, I was able to get some nice autumn photos but I could get similar photos from BRP overlooks. At other times of the year, I think I would be disappointed. You can enjoy and believe (or not) the Indian legend behind the Blowing Rock. To me, this is another case of over-commercializing natural beauty. read more

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I was looking through some of my photos of places I have been in the past and I wanted to share a place that some people may not know of in North Carolina. Blowing Rock ~ You pay a small admission to get in and you park your car and walk to see some amazing views and sights! Anyone who likes to take photos this is the place to go!! I took my Mom and Dad and we all enjoyed this place. Nothing obstructing your view as you look over at the surrounding mountain and valley of trees and just amazing views! . There is two observation decks with binocular viewers and a few paths you can walk and the actual "blowing rock" itself, along with the Native American legend behind the name. There is also a gift shop with souvenir t-shirts, mugs, calendars, postcards, all the items you expect to find to bring back home A very relaxing time you can just take your time and take a bunch of pictures! Even though it has been a few years since going here, views don't change much except maybe with season changes so this is something I would highly recommend if you are anywhere near this location, I know it was something I will not forget! read more

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This place was gorgeous! It was even more beautiful than I thought it would be. It was well worth the money. My husband was also able to get a military discount. There is a cute little cat that resides there and will follow you into the visitor house that has historical pics of Blowing Rock throughout the years. read more

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As with other reviewers, I'm amazed with the mixed reviews on Yelp. There's really nothing much to do around the area during fall and we thought it would be a good place to see the fall colors Why the 2 star rating? The pricing structure of around 9 bucks per personis is at the high end as there's nothing special about this "attraction" is a large rock jettison out... While the colors are good, but you can get the same view for FREE else where along the blueridge parkway. I all for supporting local business but this seems like a tourist trap. Caveat Emptor. Bottomline: I will not come back to this attraction again and does not recommend this to others. Seems more like a tourist trap and the pricing structure is there to relief your money from your wallet. I would recommend some of spot and view along the Blue Ridge Parkway. read more

This is an amazing park that is well-maintained and safe for visitors of all ages and absolutely worth the admission fee of $7. For all those who think $7 is too much to pay for admission.... you are forgetting that the fees pay for the upkeep and maintenance of the this local gem and salaries of the employees who work there. We enjoyed the expansive vista - it was just so beautiful. You get a map that names all the mountains and can spend as much time as you want wandering through the paths. The rock itself is a perfect "selfie" opportunity! There are even picnic tables available if you want to eat. We walked through the museum and learned quite a bit about the history of the area through old newpaper articles, photos and even actual memorabilia that was used "in the old days". read more

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So glad we came here. Of course we came on a freezing cold day. There was hardly anyone there which was a good thing for us when we wanna take pics. You pay at the shop and then enter through a door. The views are great and just beautiful. We walked around and enjoyed the fresh air. There are benches to sit but we decided not to since they were wet from the weather. Once we were done we walked in and got a few things to purchase. Their bathrooms are outside fyi. Overall, this place was nice to view and see! Glad we came here! read more

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Great break from driving on the Blue Ridge Parkway. They keep it very clean. The actual Blowing Rock is just beyond the ticket booth, so short walk for those with limited mobility. Great views of the area and a sweet Indian Legend about the rock itself. Nice little museum of the attraction's history. Not really worth the drive if this is the only place you are heading, but definitely worth it if you are in the area. read more

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An amazing experience for for all ages. This national park as tons of sightseeing spots and many beautiful areas to set back and relax. read more

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Tourist trap! I didn't realize this was basically a souvenir shop when I planned it on our trip to Boone. I thought it was a viewing point type of thing (my mistake for not doing my research). You pay $9 per adult to go see the Blowing Rock and walk along a very short little gravel path to another viewing area. The gardens are nice and well kept, but Honestly there are free viewing areas along the road that you can stop in. read more

The Blowing Rock - View from Blowing Rock - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Blowing Rock, North Carolina

If you are traveling from a long distance (just like we drove for 3 hours), just to see "The Blowing Rock", then it's really not worth it. It's $7 per person too. But if this place is on your way OR if you're nearby, then it's worth a visit once. The Blowing Rock is the only major attraction inside the park. Good place to click a lot of pictures, so avoid going on weekends as it might be crowded. Blue Ridge Parkway is amazing. We discovered some amazing trails with beautiful scenery. Enjoy :) read more

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They have a cat. It is a beautiful cat. A fluffy cat. An absolutely unit Chonky baby!! 10/10 would pet again. The view was good too.

Still loving it, not a sucker for this love story any more. Surprise surprise. haha. Would I travel here specifically for the Blowing Rock? Probably not. Do I stop by every chance I get on my way to Boone? Yes. The women that work in this little shop are friendly and hilarious. I drive a beer car, I'm hard to miss when I park in your parking lot, we talked about it for 20 minutes. They were so tickled by the work car, it made me laugh significantly longer than it should have. It's still $7 to get "in" to the Blowing Rock, you have to pass through the gift shop both going in and coming out. They have goofy little gifts in here, signs for the house, walking sticks, postcards, etc. Its cute. Pay for your ticket, and go check out the rock. The view is pretty incredible, it doesn't get old. You can climb all over the Blowing Rock, at your own risk. There's a cute, silly love story about the young brave being blown back up the mountain to be returned to his love - silly boy for jumping off of it in the first place, but whatever. Maybe she should go find a brave that doesn't throw himself off of rocks.... #lovestory. I'll continue to stop in here on my trips to Boone, I love it. Totally worth the $7. Definitely stop in the little town of Blowing Rock, its adorable. read more

The legend of Blowing Rock is that a tourist dropped her digital camera off the ledge and a gust of wind from an ancient spirit picked it up and returned it to her. No, just kidding-- the legend is that a man was so torn between love of a woman and love of his tribe that he jumped off the jutting rock into the valley below, but the woman prayed to the Great Spirit and the wind blew upwards and returned him to safety. So allegedly there are winds that blow upward near the rock. The view is amazing. (See:photos.) In summer, the valley far below was packed with rolling hills of lush green trees. I can only imagine how beautiful fall foliage would be there. You can see for miles, including the nearby profile of Grandfather Mountain and the distant Blue Ridge layers. As of August 2008 the admission price was $6, which seemed fair considering that Grandfather Mountain allegedly was $14. However, I wish they could improve the visitors' center with some more historical posters about the area and how it was inhabited and settled hundreds of years ago. It would be nice if they could expand the park somehow--there wasn't really much space to roam around. They should also renovate their tiny bathrooms. Bonus tip: there are some areas for picnics, but watch out for the bees! read more

The Blowing Rock - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Blowing Rock, North Carolina

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Nice spot, but the address was incorrect when using directions. I'm sitting here now, and my address is marked as: Pisgah National Forest 434 The Rock Rd Lenoir, NC 28605 United States So you may want to try that one. Great views, but there is an admission charge (not much; We paid $20 for a family of 5). We had a good time enjoying the scenes and history. read more

Wow, what scenery! I want to live here. I Will definitely be coming here to view the different seasons. It would be great to just sit and relax for hours and hours. Plenty of places with tables to have a picnic and if your a photographer, the picture opportunity is unlimited. I do not believe this a tourist trap by any means. The $7 is for the up-keep of the grounds and the observation deck. I think it is well worth the price. read more

One of the most uninterrupted, panoramic views you can find anywhere in Western North Carolina, the privately owned Blowing Rock attraction is one of my favorite places to visit. Nestled in the mountains of Blowing Rock, NC, you can find free scenic overlooks every half mile along the nearby Blue Ridge Parkway. But for (what I consider to be a relatively small) entrance fee of $7 per person, you get what you pay for: a better view. The attraction includes a gift shop with souvenir t-shirts, mugs, calendars, the usual items; two observation decks with binocular viewers; a few short paths to walk; and the actual "blowing rock" itself, along with the Native American legend behind the name. Visitors are even allowed to climb on the rock (at their own risk, of course). I couldn't climb the rock, but I did manage to scoot my butt to the top and swing my feet over the edge for a footsie. You know, a selfie with feet? The second observation deck is at the end of a short walk, a solid steel frame construction platform with railings to keep children safe. From here you can see Grandfather Mountain rising in the distance like a lonely mountain. The valley spreads out before you. The colors here are unbelievably gorgeous in the fall (seriously, unbelievable, so you will just have to check it out for yourself). This is one of my favorite places in Western North Carolina to enjoy a view of the mountains, any time of day, any day of the week, any season of the year. read more

The Blowing Rock - View of nearby Grandfather Mountain from the observation deck at The Blowing Rock attraction. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Blowing Rock, North Carolina

Agree with what everyone else is saying. Visited on 12/01/2020. Costed my family of 4 $17 to go walk out on the rock. Stayed maybe 10 min because literally thats all there is to do-go see a rock. Walked back through and kids picked up a handful of candy (2 packs of Reeses and 3 packs of M&Ms) and that costed another $13 because the prices are catered to ripping off tourist. Will not return. read more

I visited as a kid and was amazed coming back years later. Think it might be around 25 years later. The staff inside are so friendly(ask about the turtles). The views are amazing. If you have kids they can climb the rocks and be safe. There are 3 different places to get views from and a couple more if you have the time and can find them. It is such a beautiful place that no one should pass on. read more

If you just want a quick view I agree with the others to stop on the side of the road. I enjoyed the multiple areas to look out & places to sit a while. I also saw someone mention in reviews that they saw a cat which I also saw & it was worth my $7 alone lol. Lookouts, walking path, picnic tables, gift shop. I thought it was worth it if you want to enjoy the view for a while & take some pictures! read more

This place is a scam! Some family just found a rock with views and called it "The blowing rock" family is very rude and charge way too much just for a rock... tourist beware! Family was old and very unkind to us when asking about the site... very defensive don't come here!!! read more

NOT WORTH IT! We were SOOOOOO deceived! $9.00 a person when there is so much other natural beauty in the area that you can see for FREE. The pictures we seen on google are soooo deceiving. We thought it was a hike that lead to this blowing rock, with supposedly gusty winds. It was not worth the hour drive we made. Crowded with people, mostly kids and citizens above the age of 65. Great for the elderly, who cannot hike the mountains and such, but not worth the hour drive. A hard core tourist attraction, such a rip off, $18 total just to see a rock...a rock that was not even impressive at all what so ever....crowded with a lot of people... unfortunately we wasted our entire day going to this attraction, but at least we can laugh about it and put the receipt on our scrap book. read more

This is a really cute place to visit. It was a beautiful view. The price is $7 for adults and $2 for children over 2. There are small trails that you can walk on but there really isn't much to see besides the view. There is a story about the rock which I will post a picture of. They have two gift shops which have some cute souvenirs. It was a great place to get pictures with beautiful mountain views. They say that it is the oldest attraction in Blowing Rock, NC and I'm assuming that's how the town got it's name. I think it's cute but you can take or leave it, it's definitely not a must see. I believe they do wedding ceremonies which would be beautiful. They have small tables in the area where I suppose you can bring lunch or coffee and just enjoy the mountain air. I didn't see any coffee or hot chocolate for sale but that would be a nice addition. read more

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View is nice, but nothing you cannot get for free 5 miles away at ten spots along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Was expecting a lot more for the Blowing Rock, not a ten foot rock wrapped in a concrete sidewalk. The whole 'park' took less than 30 minutes and was not overly scenic. Been there, done that, won't bother going back. Save your cash and spend your time enjoying a much more scenic and peaceful time on the Parkway. read more

It would be fun to say this attraction blows... but it's not really that bad. Just an old fashioned tourist trap staffed by friendly ladies. The views are great. It wasn't blowing the day we went.... but there IS a rock, I promise. Nice gardens, maybe could've been nicer but what de hay, we got what was comin' to us! We only felt a little ripped off. Not bad. Not so bad. Just a bit of a chin-scratcher. I think they might think about offering a rain-check to come back for free or discount if you get a no-wind day. Even though most tourists would never do it, it would be a nice touch and put some salve where you got fleeced. We just went to a nearby bar and called it a day. read more