>>> THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK OFFERS ALL KINDS
OF TREASURES FOR ANYONE INTERESTED IN OUTDOOR
EXCURSIONS.
BUT EVEN THE MOST RUGGED NATURE LOVER NEEDS A PLACE TO REST, AND
DEREK LONG DISCOVERED THAT THE FONTANA VILLAGE IS EVERYTHING
THAT A WEARY ADVENTURER COULD WANT.
>> LOOKING FOR THAT GREAT WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA
DESTINATION?
WELL, GET ON HIGHWAY 28 IN GRAHAM COUNTY, AND IT WILL LEAD
YOU TO THE FONTANA VILLAGE RESORT.
>> IT'S A 400-ACRE PROPERTY THAT'S JUST VERY RICH IN HISTORY
BECAUSE IT WAS ORIGINALLY THE WORKERS' CAMP FOR THE BUILDING
OF FONTANA DAM JUST DURING THE END OF WORLD WAR II TO HELP WITH
THE ALUMINUM PRODUCTION IN ALCOA.
THERE WAS OVER 5,000 WORKERS HERE BUILDING THIS DAM JUST DOWN
THE ROAD FROM US HERE LESS THAN A MILE AND A HALF AWAY.
BUT AFTER THEY LEFT, THE PROPERTY WAS EMPTIED, AND
SHORTLY AFTER THAT, A GROUP CAME IN AND TURNED IT INTO A RESORT
BECAUSE SO MANY OF THE WORKERS THAT HAD BEEN HERE WANTED TO
KEEP COMING BACK.
IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE IDYLLIC PLACES.
THROUGHOUT THE VILLAGE YOU'LL FIND A LOT OF STRUCTURES THAT
HAVE BEEN HERE FROM THE BEGINNING.
THE GENERAL STORE IS STILL WHERE THE GENERAL STORE WAS THEN.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
THAT EVENTS HALL WAS THE HOSPITAL FOR THE VILLAGE, FOR
THE VILLAGE WORKERS, BACK IN THE '40s.
IT'S ALSO BEEN THE SCHOOL, THE HIGH SCHOOL AND ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL, FOR THEIR CHILDREN.
>> IT'S ALSO WHERE THE WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES GATHERED ON
WEEKENDS FOR SOME MUSIC AND DANCING ON THE RECREATION HALL'S
FAMOUS FLOATING DANCE FLOOR, SO NAMED FOR ITS FORGIVING AND
COMFORTABLE FEEL.
THAT COMFORTABLE FEELING WAS MAINTAINED WITH THE ADDITION IN
THE MID-'70s OF THE LODGE COMPLEX.
THERE'S ALSO POOLSIDE CABANAS, AS WELL AS CABINS FOR RENT.
>> AS YOU GO UP THROUGH THE VALLEY, WE HAVE CABINS.
WE HAVE OVER A HUNDRED CABINS SPREAD UNDERNEATH THE CANOPY.
>> IT'S A RELAXING PLACE TO BE.
BUT THEN -- >> EVERYBODY'S HERE FOR THE
OUTDOORS.
EVERYBODY'S HERE FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
WE DO GUIDED HIKES UP INTO THE NANTAHALA UP BEHIND US HERE IN
THE VILLAGE.
I THINK IT'S ABOUT 25 MILES OF TRAILS WE MAINTAIN OURSELVES.
>> OR YOU CAN ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE OF THE HILLBILLY
PUTT-PUTT, OR GET IN A MATCH ON THE TENNIS COURT, OR MAYBE YOUR
GAME IS ALOFT ON THE 18-HOLE FONTANA DISC GOLF COURSE.
FONTANA VILLAGE POOL AND LAZY RIVER IS JUST THE PLACE TO COOL
DOWN FROM ANY ONE OF THOSE ACTIVITIES.
BUT DON'T GET TOO RELAXED, BECAUSE WE'RE JUST GETTING
STARTED.
OUT ON THE HIGHWAY, OTHER ADVENTURES ARE CALLING.
>> THIS END OF THE STATE HAS BECOME VERY POPULAR BECAUSE OF
OUR SCENIC BYWAYS, HIGHWAY 28, THE CHEROHALA SKYWAY, AND THEN
129 THAT'S ACTUALLY KNOWN AS THE DRAGON.
WE GET THE CAR AND MOTORCYCLE ENTHUSIASTS ALONG WITH JUST THE
WEEKENDER THAT WANTS TO PULL OFF AND LOOK AT THE VISTAS ACROSS
THE VALLEYS AND LAKES AND OVER INTO THE JOYCE KILMER NATIONAL
FOREST.
>> VISIT THE DAM OR GET ON THE LAKE AT FONTANA VILLAGE MARINA.
THEY PROVIDE LAKE TOURS AND OTHER OPTIONS TO GETTING ON THE
LAKE.
>> WE'VE GOT PONTOON BOATS.
WE'VE GOT CANOES AND KAYAKS, JET SKIS.
GOT TWO BASS BOATS.
WE'VE GOT ONE HOUSEBOAT THAT THEY CAN RENT OUT.
AND WE'VE GOT GOOD FISHING, BUT THEIR GOOD FISHING IS IN THE
SPRINGTIME AND THE LATE FALL.
IT'S A GOOD CLEAN LAKE.
IT'S DEEP.
IN THE SUMMERTIME, WATER TEMPERATURE'S AROUND 81, 82
DEGREES.
GOOD SWIMMING WATER.
>> OR YOU CAN MOUNT AN EXPEDITION INTO THE HILLS AT
FONTANA RIDING STABLES.
>> WE HAVE A 1- AND A 2-HOUR AND A HALF DAY TRAIL RIDE.
WE HAVE HORSES HERE FOR ALL AGES AND ALL LEVELS OF EXPERIENCE.
>> BACK AT THE LODGE, RELIVE THE EXPERIENCES OF THE DAY WITH
FRIENDS OVER A MEAL AT THE MOUNTAIN VIEW BISTRO.
>> REGARDLESS OF WHAT THEIR FAVORITE OUTDOOR ACTIVITY WOULD
BE, WHETHER IT'S BOATING OR HIKING, FISHING, HORSEBACK
RIDING, JUST PLAYING IN THE FOREST, YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO
LIKE TO SIT DOWN WITH A CUP OF COFFEE OR A BEVERAGE AND JUST
TAKE IN THE SHEER BEAUTY OF THE AREA.
TO ME, IT'S THE NUMBER ONE REASON PEOPLE COME HERE.
IT'S AN ADDICTION THAT IS HARD TO GET OVER.
>> THIS IS DEREK LONG FOR "NORTH CAROLINA WEEKEND."