By David Rogers. BLOWING ROCK, N.C. — It was once part of a motel and restaurant built around the time of World War II. Then it became a service station before morphing into Queen’s Candy Store, a popular destination for young and old. For most of the last two decades, though, the building sat empty.
Now, what had become a decaying building is no more, torn down to make way for a new building on the same footprint: the new office of Blowing Rock’s 4 Forty Four Construction, just off of U.S. 321 along the banks of the Middle Fork South Fork New River.
The parcel was once home to the Ranch Motel and Restaurant, built in the 1940s, owned by Kenneth and Ruth Forbes. It featured, “… 35 acres of quiet, 18 deluxe rooms and a famous restaurant, serving all day.”
Kevin and Lillie Troyer, owners of 4 Forty Four, take delight in knowing and learning about the history of the property. They underlined that passion on May 30, hosting a special ceremony and “story sharing” by former employees and customers of the businesses once occupying the property.
Getting those folks together and hearing the stories had a special meaning for the Troyers because they knew, instinctively, that what remained of the old was a treasured part of Blowing Rock history and they wanted to preserve as much as they could, even honor those times, as they turned the pages on a new chapter of the property’s history.
Demolishing the old New River Inn building and replacing it with 4 Forty Four’s new headquarters was originally intended as Phase I of their development plans, said Troyer. But then, one of their “dream projects” began taking shape in their minds, for the forested slopes across the river they had purchased, too.
“It was to be ‘The Village on the Headwaters Tree House Project’,” Troyer explained, a complex of short-term vacation rentals built in and amongst the trees. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit about the same time they discovered a natural spring that made their original construction concepts more problematic for a key segment of the parcel. They may still go forward with a variation of the original concept but, for now, they have turned their attention to the new office building, the original Phase I.
For the entire parcel, their creative imaginations were guided by a single question, “What would be the best way to act as good stewards of this land?” For the Troyers, it wasn’t just about preserving green space but also honoring the history.
Organizing and hosting the May 30 meeting of former employees and customers of the businesses formerly occupying the property was an important first step. They wanted to hear the stories that are uniquely Blowing Rock.
“Blowing Rock is where we planted our roots,” said Lillie Troyer. “It is where we have grown our family and intentionally established our business these past 22 years.”
Added Kevin, “This new office will provide a central home for our team, clients and guests but it will also showcase how fortunate we are to steward a portion of Blowing Rock’s history. We aim to preserve as much as we can from the past while breathing new life into this growing community.”
At the hosted event, the history was there, in living persons:
- Roy Gryder once worked at the service station, shared some colorful stories about oil changes, and shared how “Mama Ruth” (Forbes) was good to her employees.
- Ruby Walters was also a former waitress during the original ownership of the Forbes’. She recalled how wonderful the Forbes couple was and that “It was the best job I ever had.”
- Rick Mattar, a longtime Blowing Rock based attorney, once helped negotiate the sale of the property.
The motel changed owners a few times, the Forbes’ selling the business to Jim and Mary Douglas O’Dell.
- Lynn Lawrence, born and raised in Blowing Rock and now a 4 Forty Four team member, recalled how working as a waitress at the old Ranch Motel and Restaurant from 1968-1971 was her first job. She affectionately called Mr. O’Dell, “Uncle Jim,” then said, “It was my first job I ever had right there (pointing across the river at the old motel site) and now the last job I will ever have is right here,” she said, referring to the site of the new 4 Forty Four office building.
- Cathy Barker, who now is the membership director for the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce, grew up in Blowing Rock during the 90s and reflected on the building she knew as Queen’s Candy Store. “My brother and I would walk to the candy store to buy chocolate covered pretzels and eat them all the way home.”
“We knew that we had acquired a piece of Blowing Rock history,” said Kevin Troyer in opening the May 30 event and addressing his guests. “We truly wanted to honor a once bustling amenity that served locals and tourists alike.”
Folks can follow along with the design-build of the new office at the website, www.4fortyfour.com or on the firm’s social media pages.
