By Karen Martin
Reporter
kamartin@elkintribune.com


Visitors to the area looking to enjoy the peak of the fall leaf season may have to wait at least an additional week. Much of the landscape is hardly changed as leaves are still green. It was quite apparent at the scenic lookout on N.C. 21 located three miles up the mountain when leaving the State Road area, which attracted a steady stream of visitors on Sunday afternoon.

"The color isn't as bright and changed as I thought it would be through here," said Patsy Greene. "There's much more color up at the top of the mountain around Sparta and at home in Virginia, too."

While some expressed disappointment that all the orange, red, gold and burgundy's weren't in full color yet, there were some visitors who didn't seem to mind

"It's a beautiful spot," said W. Karl. "My wife and I travel down this way, (N.C. 21) every fall, have for 30 some years. She loves the colors and the drive is just the right amount of winding to give you that feeling of being in the mountains."

Karl and his wife, who hail from Columbia, S.C., wouldn't give his first name. His wife made herself unavailable to ask her name by walking over to another part of the overlook.

It is a paradox to many that Elkin, being at the foot of the mountains with an elevation of 906 feet above sea level, has a considerable amount of color, but their tones have yet to reach brilliance. According to the NC Cooperative Extension web site, cooler nighttime temperatures have helped accelerate the color change. Despite that, State Road, with an elevation of 1196 feet, has also started to see the vibrant colors of fall, and Sparta, with the highest elevation at 2939, has vibrant golds, reds, and oranges on the trees exposed to the weather on the tops and sides of the mountains. It is simply the area between State Road and Sparta that has yet to experience the changing colors.

While there may have been those who stopped at the scenic lookout who were disappointed, many were simply annoyed. But it wasn't because the leaves on the trees hadn't changed colors. It was an infestation of insects.

A group of boy scouts from Greensboro --Troop 111 -- that had stopped at the scenic overlook after camping at the Grayson Highlands State Park in Virginia over the weekend were busy swatting away at the insects.

"What are these, June bugs?" one of the boy scouts asked.

Not quite.

As they hurried back to the vehicles, their troop leader held out his hand.

"Look, these are yellow ladybugs."

"They're everywhere," Brendon Malone, one of the boy scouts said.

A visitor walking past the group of boys offered an explanation.

"They flock by the thousands here every fall and spring. They invade your house if they can get in."

The visitor then got in his car and drove away.

Fall Colors and the effect on local hotels and motels

Although the leaves have not turned colors in certain areas, it has not had an impact of local hotels and motels.

With the leaf viewing season in full swing, local hotels/motels report on occupancy.

The Elk Inn on North Bridge Street has seen occupancy up this weekend.

"I believe the fall leaves are contributing to the amount of guests we have right now," Sonya Payne said. "Our occupancy rate is about equal to last years."

Anita Darnell with the Holiday Inn Express on N.C. 67 in Jonesville stated that they are seeing normal occupancy for October.

"We have our regular discount programs, along with a few coupon programs that several hotels are participating in," Darmell said. "I think the economy is playing a part in the lower than usual occupancy this year. We have had several travelers who checked in for the weekend to tour the vineyards and wineries."

The new Fairfield Inn and Suites was at 79 percent occupancy this weekend.

"We've have four wedding parties which accounts for most of our occupancy this weekend," Debbie Holbrook, guest services specialist at Fairfield said. "Many of our guests were from California and wanted to know how to get to Stone Mountain Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway. I'm sure they wanted to take in the beautiful colors of fall."