Little Parkway
Moses H. Cone Memorial Park, NC

Moses H. Cone was a self-made man in the best American tradition. His textile mills produced high quality denim fabric, earning him the title, "Denim King." Fond of nature and plagued by poor health, Moses was drawn to the mountainous region of western North Carolina with its moderate climate, fresh spring water, and clean air. In 1897, at the age of 40, Moses and his wife Bertha journeyed to Blowing Rock to design and build their summer estate.

The 3,516 acres of the estate included Flat Top Mountain and Rich Mountain. Situated on top of a hill, the luxurious 20-room Flat Top Manor looked down across five acres of apple orchards leading to Bass Lake. In order to see the mountain vistas, Cone had a lookout tower constructed on top of Flat Top Mountain.

The magnificent Flat Top Manor now houses the Parkway Craft Center and a National Park Service information desk, both open daily through October. During the summer, artisans demonstrate their skills on the front porch.