The North Carolina
Visitor Center
Welcome to the North Carolina Visitor Center
From the mountains to the coast and all points in between
To receive our free North Carolina Visitor Center Newsletter by email each month, please email us at
newsletter@ncvisitorcenter.com
The Art of Roger Thomas
A while back, we made a wonderful personal discovery in the work of artist Roger Thomas. I say personal discovery, because Roger is already well known among those who recognize North Carolina’s best artists. Roger’s work draws comparisons to Bob Timberlake, but Roger works in oil paints and his work is vibrant and his use of colors dramatic. Roger’s work is realistic and his subjects are often scenes of natural beauty in North Carolina.
When viewing Roger’s paintings of Pilot Mountain or Morrow Mountain, the highest compliment one can pay an artist of such realistic style comes to mind: at first, you think you are viewing the most beautiful photograph you’ve ever seen, with the light playing brilliantly on every feature and the shadows providing contrast. Then, you begin to realize that it is a painting and awe sets in as you begin to realize that each of the myriad ripples in the water or dappled leaved are brush strokes. Few artists possess such jaw-dropping skill as Roger Thomas. However, he is also truly humble. To find such a combination of ideal traits in a man so gifted is perhaps the rarest discovery of all.
We asked Roger to write a message to our reader’s:
Hi,
My name is Roger Thomas. I am an artist and a native of Stanly County, located in Albemarle, North Carolina. We are located on the Outskirts of the Uwharrie Mountains, just below Morrow Mountain State Park. Our address is 44134 Vicker Store Road. Our phone number is (704) 983-1861. You may visit our website for a look at my work at www.rogersthomas.com. There is also a map for directions to our location on the website.
Read More
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Discover Wide Open Spaces, Rural Country Roads, Historic Small Towns, A National Wildlife Refuge and Historic Museums in Small Town America
... Only About One Hour East of Charlotte NC ...
Discover History
- Visit Historic Uptown Wadesboro
A self-guided walking tour of Wadesboro’s historic district is available through the Chamber or Historical Society. On the National Register, you’ll find many historic buildings including the county courthouse, post office, old homes, churches and museums.
- Visit Restored Houses and Historic Museums Maintained by the Anson County Historical Society
Boggan-Hammond House (1796) and Alexander Little House (1839)
Leavitt Country Inn (1832) now the Museum of Early America with late 19th/early 20th century artifacts and Arrowhead Collection
Ashe-Covington Medical Museum (1890) featuring 100 years of health care by country doctors
- Other Historic Sites throughout the County
Explore Anson County and you’ll find many historic country churches, cemeteries and antebellum homes including:
Calvary Episcopal Church (1893), Rocky River Baptist Church (1776), Long Pine Methodist Church (1776) and East View Cemetery (1800).
Discover Art
Anson County Arts Council
The Ansonia Theatre (1925), a restored vaudeville theater, now a community theater featuring live musical and theatrical productions
Art Galleries at Rutherford Street and the Olde Mill Art Gallery at the Lockhart-Taylor Center featuring local and regional art
Local Art and Pottery in Retail and Gift Shops
Discover Nature, Outdoors & Science
Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge
Over 8,000 acres of natural habitat on the Great Pee Dee River.
Rotary Planetarium & Science Center
Planetarium and science exhibits. Group tours available.
Geocaching
Get involved in geocaching, a real-world treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. Anson County has over 40 active geo- cache sites. Start at geocaching.com.
Click here to learn more
The Government Inspector
Don't miss the UNCP Players’ production of The Government Inspector, by Nikolai Gogol, adapted by Jeffery Hatcher and directed by our own Jonathan Drahos, here at UNCP. This farce runs February 25-28 @ 8:00 p.m. at GPAC and is free for UNCP students/staff; 3.00 for students/military; and 5.00 general admission. Attached is a poster. Any promotion help would be most appreciated J J.
A brief description from Wiki, although ours is a modernized adaptation!
The Government Inspector: ... “is a satirical play by the Russian dramatist and novelist Nikolai Gogol.[1] Originally published in 1836, the play was revised for an 1842 edition. Based upon an anecdote allegedly recounted to Gogol by Pushkin,[2] the play is a comedy of errors, satirizing human greed, stupidity, and the extensive political corruption of Imperial Russia.”
Don Reno
Don Reno was one of the most distinctive and influential banjo players in the history of bluegrass music. Born in the Upcountry of South Carolina in 1927, Reno spent most of his childhood on a farm in Clyde, in Haywood County. He built his first banjo with a friend, using white oak and dogwood for the pot and neck, a cat's skin for the head, and screen door wires for strings. When the family moved back to South Carolina around 1938, Reno's father traded a hog for a guitar, which he gave to Don.
In the early 1940s Reno played a series of radio gigs out of Spartanburg, South Carolina. With some friends from Greer, he formed the Tapp Brothers band, which would, through a series of name changes, eventually evolve into Don Reno and his Tennessee Cut Ups.
Reno served in the Army during World War II, later returning to South Carolina and the Tennessee Cut Ups. Throughout the ‘40s and ‘50s he played with a variety of musicians, including Bill Monroe, Arthur Smith, Lester Flatt, and Earl Scruggs. In 1952 he made an album for King Records with Red Smiley, an Asheville native who would become Reno's best-known partner.
http://youtu.be/x572Y3JCnJ0
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Some of North Carolina’s greatest treasures can be found off the beaten path. You never know what you might find... an old-time general store, local artisan, or simply a picturesque view that takes your breath away. You’ll be swept away by the untouched natural landscape found on the backroads of this rural county.
In Anson County, you can discover all that and more. Come. Visit. Surround yourself with the beauty of North Carolina’s best kept secret.
Fabio's Restaurant in Downtown Newland... celebrating more than 7 years in business!
Cuisine that is always "exciting and new" from the former executive chef of the Love Boat!
Wonderful Wine Tastings at Fabio's!
Visit http://www.fabioandkids.com/ for schedule
Call for reservations
Call for Details
106 Pineola St Newland, NC.
828-733-1314
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Hands Together is a nonprofit organization devoted to educating, inspiring and encouraging people to understand the importance of responding to the needs of the poor and disadvantaged. Our Mission, as we strive to build a more compassionate and human world, proceeds from the spiritual belief that we are all members of one, equal, interconnected family under a loving God.
www.handstogether.org
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