Horn in the West

The show, the oldest revolutionary war drama in the United States, was about the life and times of the hardy mountain settlers of western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee.

The story follows the family of Dr. Geoffrey Stuart, a British loyalist, who is forced to flee the lower colony due to the actions of his son during the Battle of Alamance.

Kai Jurgensen was the first artistic director of the show, followed by George McCalmon, Edgar Loessin, William Ross, David French, Gene Wilson, Ward Haarbauer, and Richard Ayers.

Succeeding directors have included A. Lynn Lockrow, Dewey "Bud" Mayes, Michael Schialabba, and Cherie Elledge-Grapes, daughter of Charlie (Rev.

The Southern Appalachian Historical Association (SAHA) was formed to serve as the producing organization for Horn in the West in 1951, and as of 2023 still acts in that role.

Hickory Ridge, which was created in 1980, consists of six historic cabins from the Appalachian region dated from the 18th and 19th centuries, which are available for guests to visit in guided tours led by interpreters wearing period clothing.

A historic collection of SAHA documents, including documents related to organizational history, production materials for Horn in the West, productions at the Powderhorn Theater and Daniel Boone Amphitheater, the establishment of Daniel Boone Native Gardens, and the Hickory Ridge Homestead Museum, as well as miscellaneous regional research materials used by SAHA, can be found in the Special Collections Research Center at Appalachian State University.

Additionally, the large Horn in the West parking lot serves as the site of Watauga County's farmers' market, which operates on Saturdays from April to November.