WRAL visited Vade Mecum and interviewed Brian Strong, Robin Riddlebarger and Thad Woodard. Check out the video.
https://www.wral.com/video/tar-heel-traveler-vade-mecum/21273196
Transcript from the video –
WHAT A LIFE IT HAS LED. NOT A PERSON. >> WHAT A PLACE A PLACE IN THE WOODS OF STOKES COUNTY. THAT’S WHERE WE FIND OUR TAR HEEL TRAVELER. TONIGHT, SCOTT MASON IS INSIDE HANGING ROCK STATE PARK AT A ONCE ENCHANTED RESORT. >> SOON TO BE RESTORED. HERE IN STOKES COUNTY IS A HOTEL ONCE ELEGANT, THEN ABANDONED, KNOWN AS VADE MECUM. >> LATIN FOR COME. GO WITH ME FOR ME WAS MAGICAL. SO MANY MEMORIES. IT WAS A MAGICAL PLACE FOR EVERYBODY WHO CAME HERE. THEY CAME HERE IN THE EARLY 1900. IT’S BECAUSE OF THE SPRING. THEY CAME IN HERE, TOO. >> DRINK THE WATER FROM THE SPRING TO BATHE IN IT. THE THOUGHT OF HIM ADDITIONAL PURPOSES AND FROM THAT TIME IT GREW INTO A RESORT. BUT LOOK AT THE OLD RESORT NOW. DOES IT MAKE YOU EXHAUSTED THINKING OF THE WORK AHEAD? IT’S A LOT OF WORK. WE’RE EXCITED ABOUT IT, BUT IT IS CHALLENGING. IT’S A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE DO. THE STATE PLANS TO RESTORE TAMIKA. SO RIGHT NOW WE’RE ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE HOTEL, THE ROOM. IT WILL LOOK MUCH DIFFERENT THAN THEY DO TODAY. THE DINING ROOM WE ARE GOING TO PUT IN AN INDUSTRIAL KITCHEN IN HERE WAS IN A SWANKY HOTEL. I THINK IT WAS A VERY UPSCALE THAT PEOPLE CAN COME OUT AND GET AWAY AND ENJOY THE SPRING. STOKES WOULD STAND ON THE PORCH OF HOTEL. >> THEY WATCHED CARRIAGES COMBINE COMING IN FROM THE JUNIOR ALWAYS BELIEVED IT WAS ENCHANTED. IT BECAME A CHURCH CAMP IN THE MID 1900 THAT I HAD A CHANCE TO COME AS A CAMPER AND THERE’S A COUCH OR AND IT REALLY MADE A GREAT DIFFERENCE IN MY LIFE SPACE. >> BEAUTY AND THE SCENERY AND THE SETTING. IT’S PERFECT SPOT. THE OLD GM AND THE BEAUTIFUL WOODEN BASKETBALL FLOOR. THIS STATE WILL TURN THE GM INTO AN EVENT SPACE AND THE POOL OUT BACK. THAT’S A BIG COUP. IT’S A HUGE POOL. THE POOL WILL BE FILLED THE SO MANY MEMORIES WERE MADE HERE. AND I JUST THINK OF THE MEMORIES THAT WILL BE MADE FOR FAMILIES THAT COME TO STAY AND HEAR. >> THE COASTAL MOUNTAINS ADJACENT TO THE SORROW MILE WAS THE ONLY MOUNTAIN RANGE IN AMERICA WITH IN THE BOUNDARIES OF A SINGLE CAB. >> STOKES COUNTY ALSO BEATEN PATH. BUT BY THE WAY, IT IS NOW RETURN TO THE BIG THEY TO ME COME. IT IS INC AND IT IS TRULY ENCHANTING COME. >> GO WITH ME. EVERYBODY. WHO COMES TO YOUR CAN FEEL IT. AND TO HEAD BACK HOME ABOUT IT’S A BLESSING. THE STATE WILL BEGIN RESTORING THE PROPERTY THIS SPRING AND HOPES TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT IN ABOUT 18 MONTHS ALLOWING VISITORS.