Ballantyne Magazine covers news, events, real estate, restaurants, shopping, health, schools and business in the upscale Ballantyne Area of Charlotte, NC.
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started doing hay rides where we tell the stories. Obviously we can't tell them all. But we take people out for about an hour … and tell them the history of this place." The sharing of oral histories spurred another movement. Local musicians started coming to Altapass with their own compositions which, like the orchard itself, harken to the history of the region. "I didn't grow up loving bluegrass and country music," Carson says. "But we quickly came to appreciate the value of the music of this part of the country. It seems like everybody up here plays something, and most of them play it pretty well. … There may be more music talent per square mile in this part of the country than anywhere else in the world." So the Carsons started inviting local musicians to play concerts five days a week at Altapass. The concerts are free, though a tip jar is passed, with the collection going to the entertainers. Clogging, Conserving Live music, local history, hay rides, homemade fudge and, of course, apples. Do you need yet another reason to visit The Historic Orchard at Altapass? "If Bill is here, he's probably going to try and teach you how to clog dance," Carson says. "He claims he can do it in two minutes. But we've timed him, and it never works out. But if you've ever wanted to see a rocket scientist dance, this is the place to come." OK, we're sold. But even more motivation to support the orchard stems from the Carsons' contributions to local conservation along the parkway. As a result of the work at Altapass tracing back the purchase of the land nearly two decades, more than 2,000 acres have now been preserved from development, Carson says. Property rights that once belonged to individuals recently have been sold to the state's conservation networks and conservancy funds. "If you think of what we did years ago as a seed, maybe that seed is growing a little bit up and down the parkway, where private land that borders the parkway is now being preserved and people are opting not to go for the big bucks," Carson says. "We feel, and more and more people are beginning to feel, a sense of urgency about doing something the help preserve this parkway. "If we had it to do over again, we might not do it, though," Carson adds. "We had no idea how much work was going to be involved. Bill is fond of saying it's easier to put men on the moon than it is grow apples. He says there are fewer variables." But Skip admits he receives a welcome jolt of energy every August and September, when repeat customers start showing up. "There's definitely something about having the live music playing and seeing people walk around bins of apples," he says. "There's a mix that happens up here that is somewhat inexplicable. Sometimes we wonder what we are doing right." Make this the best school year ever! 50% *Offer expires October 1, 2010 2010 Huntington Learning Centers, Inc. Independently owned and operated *Offer valid for Diagnostic Test only. Not valid with any other offer. FALL 2010 CELEBRATING TEN YEARS 2000-2010 OFF* Diagnostic Evaluation for Ballantyne Magazine Readers Convenient to Ballantyne, Huntington Learning Center can quickly and accurately determine your child's educational challenges and tailor a program that helps them improve their grades. We've been helping local families since 1989. Our goal is improved academic performance and peace of mind. You appreciate how much your child's future depends on academic achievement. Call us right now at (704)542-5421 and we'll help you improve those grades and give your child the skills essential for success at school and success in life. 704.542.5421 8700 Pineville Matthews Road Charlotte NC 28226 BALLANTYNE MAGAZINE 91