Denim Ball Raises More Than $200,000 For Moses H. Cone Memorial Park Restoration - National Parks Traveler

Flat Top Manor glows as the sun sets on Moses H. Cone Memorial Park/Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation

A successful fundraiser brought the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation more than $200,000 closer to its goal for covering the costs of restoration work at Flat Top Manor at Moses H. Cone Memorial Park.

With Flat Top Manor as the backdrop, the fourth annual Denim Ball welcomed more than 200 guests last Thursday.

“It was only fitting to welcome guests to a celebration on the estate given their enduring commitment to its preservation,” said Willa Mays, chief development officer for the foundation. “The evening was more than a fundraiser; it was truly a celebration of our donors.”

Guests arrived for the evening by trolley cars and vehicles provided by Modern Automotive, and were invited to mingle on the lawn, enjoy hors d’oeuvres, and place bids in the silent auction tent.

Seated under a long white tent erected at the foot of the Colonial Revival-style mansion, guests enjoyed a buffet dinner by Gadabouts Catering and a spectacular view of Bass Lake and the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Foundation CEO Carolyn Ward, Blue Ridge Parkway Superintendent J.D. Lee, and Tracy Brown, executive director of the Blowing Rock Tourism Development Authority, welcomed the guests. Karen Cucurullo, Southeast deputy regional director with the National Park Service, congratulated the crowd for funding the newly installed fire suppression system for the historic house. Private donors matched funding from the National Park Service to cover the project’s costs.

After the meal, auctioneer Jenny Miller energized the crowd with live bidding. The crowd was invited to raise their paddles to pay for features of the home that need to be replaced, including columns, windows, and balusters.  The night continued with dancing on the porch of Flat Top Manor to live music by Soul Benefactor. As dusk settled in, the 23 rooms of the mansion were set aglow for guests to admire.  

Over the last three years, the foundation has raised more than $3 million for extensive repairs to the manor house and grounds, with a total goal of $3.6 million. Due to the success of the Denim Ball, the Foundation has now closed the funding gap to $400,000 for Cone projects.

To learn more about the future of Moses H. Cone Memorial Park and donate, visit brpfoundation.org.

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