The Mountaineer

By Andrew Marshall

April 25, 2025

You’ve probably seen the large wooden quilt block patterns hanging on buildings all over the county, probably most often as you drive by at 40 miles per hour.

But the blocks are worth a closer look, something you’ll be able to do in style on Saturday, May 3, in conjunction with the Appalachian Heritage Festival.

The Haywood County Arts Council will run what’s hopefully the first of many bus tours of the quilt blocks, allowing folks to enjoy the art at a leisurely pace without having to navigate Haywood’s back roads.

There are more than 90 quilt blocks hanging on Haywood homes and businesses that are part of the official Haywood County Quilt Block Trail.

“I thought it would be a different way to experience quilt blocks,” said Tonya Hardwood, executive director of the HCAC. “Lots of different types of people visit and live in our community, and I thought this is something that you can do regardless of how young or old you are. You don’t have to know your way around. You just get in and ride around, and you’ll get a little slice of history.”

HCAC has hired two long-time locals, Joey Webb and Caleb Tate, to lead the tours. Hardwood is encouraging them to call upon their vast local knowledge to spice up the tours, and there’s no telling what kind of insider Haywood history you might hear on the ride. No spoilers, but the surprising and somewhat morbid history of Fines Creek (and an interesting quilt block in that area) might shock you.

The 1.5-hour quilt block tour will range all over the county, covering 26 quilt blocks, two murals, and two public art pieces.

The Quilt Trail is a reflection of local people and places — with each block telling a unique story steeped in history and heritage. The tour will impart these slices of local lore on the journey across the county, while traveling through picturesque landscapes.

As a final bonus, there will be adult beverages available for purchase while on the tour.

Tickets for the quilt block trail are $45, with buses leaving Waynesville at 10 a.m, 1 p.m., and 4 p.m. on May 3. There are only 78 slots available, so advanced registration is recommended. Visit haywoodarts.org/ath-festival/#bustour.