Saviors of the Good Stuff ... in their own voices

This is a story about what is right with the world. The Orchard at Altapass is a natural sanctuary embracing the view of the Blue Ridge Mountains and a sloping orchard of old heirloom apples in tortured 100-year-old apple trees. This land is sacred. The apple barn is often described as a church within a church. Sermons are not preached here but conspicuous are the values of knitted families and close friends. The choirs of weekly entertaining musicians and their Appalachian bands provide a life-line of connectedness and sustenance to those who come to participate as observers or dancers. The smiles and friendliness are instantly contagious and contribute literally to a healing spirit of well-being and comfort. The orchard story is about what is right with the world. The testimonials of these depicted saviors are artifacts of the orchard’s history. There are many others but this sampling provides a window into this special place of homage. About the Orchard at Altapass. The Orchard was built in 1910 by the Clinchfield Railroad when it punched through the Blue Ridge Mountains at McKinney Gap to serve transportation demands in the Tennessee Valley. It is also the site of the Overmountain Men route during the Revolutionary War, marching to King’s Mountain and handing the British a stinging defeat recognized as a turning point of the War. Today the Orchard is a cultural center and working orchard bisected by the National Park Service's most visited national park, the Blue Ridge Parkway.