About the Appalachian Theatre

Who We Are

Since 2011, a group of business and community leaders from Watauga County, led by John Cooper, Founder of Mast General Store, conducted a capital campaign to raise support for the purchase, renovation, and restoration of the 1930’s-era Appalachian Theatre on King Street in Downtown Boone. The theatre has a rich, colorful history but was shuttered and stripped at the center of a rapidly-growing, vibrant downtown area in 2011.

  • The Appalachian Theatre of the High Country (ATHC) was established in 2012 to operate exclusively for charitable, cultural, artistic, historic or educational non-profit purposes. More specifically, to renovate, restore, preserve, operate, program and manage the Appalachian Theatre for the benefit and enjoyment of both residents and visitors to the High Country region of North Carolina.

    The intent was to renovate and reopen the Appalachian Theatre to serve as a hub for entertainment in Downtown Boone and the High Country and to provide programming options for residents, visitors and tourists in our corner of Western North Carolina. In 2019, it reopened. Restored to its original Art Deco brilliance, the theatre hosts a variety of events including lectures, meetings, film series, live concerts, theatre performances, and dance productions. With 629 seats and a 1,600 square foot community room accommodating up to 113 patrons, the venue hosts small and mid-sized performing arts events.

  • The original Appalachian Theatre closed in 2007, and the building owner immediately began gutting the entire venue in order to transform it into a live performance space for bands. As a result, many of the original decorative features of both the interior and the exterior were lost. Shortly thereafter, the buyer encountered financial difficulties. By the time the Town of Boone bought the building in 2011, a leaky roof and vandalism caused additional damage to the building.

    After working cooperatively for two years, the ATHC bought the building from the Town of Boone in 2013. In order to make the theatre usable, the ATHC worked to repair the existing building and bring it in up to current fire and building codes.

    The original theatre facade and marquee were reconstructed in painstaking detail to recreate the original exterior appearance of the theatre and unveiled in 2017. Interior wall surfaces were finished in the theatre's original Art Deco style. New seating that meets ADA requirements was installed. New equipment, including digital projection, theatrical lighting, and a new sound system, transformed the theatre into a modern performance venue. Other modern amenities--including dressing rooms, expanded wing space, a loading dock, and elevators--were added to make the theatre a viable performance space. The new Appalachian Theatre is designed to be flexible, accommodating the varying needs of potential community users.

    The facility is staffed with experienced, versatile professionals who nurture an atmosphere in which all members of the community are welcomed and encouraged to participate in the new life of the Appalachian Theatre.

MISSION STATEMENT

The Appalachian Theatre of the High Country welcomes audiences by providing exemplary performing arts experiences
that engage, entertain, and educate.

CORE VALUES

We value…

The Arts as a means of uniting our community and engaging our audiences.

Diversity and we strive to ensure inclusive access regarding our governance, programs, performances, artists and guests.

Stewardship which requires we advocate for the preservation, celebration, and future development of the Appalachian Theatre, including wise, efficient, and ethical use of all resources entrusted to our care.

Strategic Community Partnerships, as essential for growing a sustainable, impactful theatre, and an engaged arts community. 

Excellence as we strive to create memorable experiences for both artists and audiences.