Flat Top Manor--more commonly called Cone Manor--is the centerpiece of the 3,600 acre Moses H. Cone Memorial Park, donated to the National Park Service by the family of textile magnate Moses Cone after his death. The grand structure, once used by the Cone family as a summer retreat, looks down on Bass Lake near Blowing Rock. The property it dominates was acquired by Cone in 1897, and includes 25 miles of winding carriage roads leading to the lake. The carriage roads are popular with locals and visitors alike for hiking, jogging and horseback riding. Located near Parkway milepost 293, the Manor now houses the Parkway Crafts Center.

The grandeur and formality of the Manor carries over to the fence separating pasture from carriage road just in front of the house. The fence, in fact, exactly echoes the trim of railings that appear on all three levels of the Manor. At sunrise on this late August morning, skies were clear and winds were calm; an unusual, peaceful quiet engulfed the grounds. The glow of the sun, climbing quickly above the eastern ridges, highlighted the dewy blades of grass, warmed the low-lying fog in the valleys far below, and illuminated the chips and scars on the old fence--clearly evidencing its age. The scene evokes a feeling of serenity to me; if I were photographing a wedding party, I think this spot would also provide a wonderful setting for that purpose.