Just Down the Road: 3 Fun Spots for Nature Lovers Near Salisbury, NC

The Old Stone House in Rowan County is one of the most iconic landmarks in North Carolina. Now a museum, this structure was once the masterpiece of a teenage immigrant who sailed from Germany to Philadelphia. Visitors who check out the home today can step back in time and view hundreds of artifacts from the eighteenth century. Here are five fascinating facts about this incredible piece of history that will make you the new local history expert. more 1. Its German Architecture Is Among the Best in the Southeast The house was built by Michael Braun, a German immigrant from the town of Granite Quarry. The stone design will easily make you feel like you're right in Germany. While it stands today as a magnificent piece of architecture, visitors will be surprised to know that wasn't always the case. The house stood abandoned during the 1900s and became the site of vandalism for over twenty years. At one point, developers wanted to tear down the thick granite walls to make way for a road. Today, this iconic structure stands among the best colonial-style homes in the North Carolina area. 2. It Took Seven Years to Build Braun began building the home on 274 acres of land near Crane Creek by hand. The entire project took 3,500 tons of granite from a quarry that a mile away. He polished each stone for the front of the house to fit together correctly and create an impressive design.  The back of the house did not share the same flair as the front – it stood unevenly supported on a wooden peg. 3. There Is a Secret Inscription Over the Doorway If you look up at the doorway as you enter the home, you'll see a hidden inscription chiseled into the stone above the door. The inscription refers to Braun and his three wives and ten children and the year the house was completed. Braun likely put it there because it is customary to inscribe new dwellings with the builder's name in Germany. 4. Many People Fought to Save the House After standing vacant for a long time, parts of the home began to collapse, and looters started to cut up pieces of the house for firewood. Family trustees first attempted to save the home in 1927 but could not afford the cost of repairs. A few years later, Braun's direct decedents tried to restore the house and ran into financing issues as well. The Rowan Museum stepped up in 1957, saved the home, and converted it into a museum. 5. Michael Braun is Buried Nearby Although it is not a confirmed fact, many people over the centuries have believed that the man who built the stone house, Michael Braun, is buried in the nearby family cemetery. The Braun cemetery is located across from the house where he and his wife Margareta lay at rest. Michael's headstone is missing, but visitors can still see his wife's original tombstone. Next time you are in the Salisbury area, challenge your friends and family to some history trivia and bring them to this landmark to learn while having fun. On your way back, visit Cloninger Toyota, where we will happily help you with all of your Toyota sales and service needs.

Ready for your Instagram-worthy close-up or to snap some shots of local wildlife? Salisbury, NC has tons of eye-catching, spectacular photo opportunities waiting for you in your own backyard. Don't stress searching for the perfect spot for your next profile pic. Here are the top five photo spots around Salisbury! 5 Top Photo Spots for Taking Pictures in Driving Distance of Salisbury, NC 1. Waterworks Visual Arts Center The Salisbury nonprofit museum is an incredible place to appreciate local art and delve into the art and culture scene. The museum boasts a wide array of art inside and outdoors. The Waterworks' outdoor sculpture garden is a great way to explore art with exhibits and sculptures ranging from abstract contemporary to renaissance gothic. ​Stop ​by Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM or Saturday from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. more 2. Hurley Park The 18-acre public park is perfect for scenic, enchanting shots. The park is filled with trails, streams, gardens, and woodlands. Visitors love the rustic wooden bridge that crosses over a small brook, an ivy-covered gazebo, and more. During the spring, visitors to the park can enjoy the daffodil gardens and the vibrant red and oranges of the changing leaves in the fall. 3. Crossroads: Past Into Present Mural The Past into Present Mural is one of Salisbury's most famous attractions. Painted by Salisbury's own Cynvia Arthur Rankin, the painting immerses you in the city's past. The whimsical, fun mural features over 100 locals dressed in period costumes and has been featured on NBC, in newspapers, and in magazines. 4. Salisbury City Park The 41-acre park features a 4.25-acre scenic lake. The rustic wooden dock that juts out onto the center of the lake is perfect for photo ops and duck-watching. The park also features pickleball courts, picnic tables, a climbing wall, and two play structures. Visitors enjoy the park's gorgeous trails that take you through city woodlands full of greenery. 5. Old Stone House Less than five miles from Salisbury sits the Old Stone House in Granite Quarry. The two-story Georgian-style house was built by German immigrant Michael Braun in 1766 and is the oldest structure in Rowan County. The old-stone home surrounded by woods makes you feel like you are stepping back in time. The house is open to tours every Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM April through November. Whether you are looking for an artsy photo or to capture wildlife, you don't have to go far with these great spots. Hop in your Toyota RAV4 that can take you through any on or off-road terrain, turning heads. The sleek and sporty RAV4 will have jaws dropping whether you are on asphalt or dirt. Stop by Cloninger Toyota today and find the picture-perfect vehicle for your needs.

Blending strong performance with a fuel-efficient hybrid powertrain, the 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid is a unique find on today's roads. Few vehicles can combine these qualities while also offering all-wheel drive and room for up to eight passengers. This is all complemented by a stylish, comfortable interior and cutting-edge technology inside and out, making this versatile SUV well worth a closer look. A Closer Look at the 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Performance The 2023 Highlander Hybrid, which offers both front-wheel (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD), comes with an impressive 2.5-liter I-4 engine that pairs with an electric motor to deliver 243 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. This powertrain system is combined with an electronically controlled transmission that provides the vehicle with smooth, seamless shifting at both low and high speeds. more Also adding to this vehicle's performance is Drive Mode Select, which gives you four different driving modes in FWD models (Normal, Eco, EV, and Sport), as well as a fifth mode, Trail, in AWD-equipped models. As for fuel economy, the gas-electric powertrain helps the vehicle achieve an estimated 36 mpg on highways. Interior This edition's interior comes with a wide array of features to keep you and your passengers comfortable on every drive, like a tri-zone climate control that divide's the cabin's temperature into separate zones with a separate control console for rear-seat passengers. Leather-trimmed seats are available and offer a heating setting for second-row passengers, as well as both heating and ventilation settings for the front passenger and driver seats, and to minimize headlight glare, select models come with an auto-dimming rearview mirror. Technology Combining convenience with entertainment, the vehicle's Toyota Audio Multimedia System has an available eight-inch touchscreen and allows you to either use that or your voice to make and take phone calls, access select media files and apps from your smartphone, and listen to music and podcasts on SiriusXM radio channels, in addition to many other functions. The intuitive Dynamic Radar Cruise Control keeps you distanced from others on the road while also maintaining a pre-selected speed when possible, and for long trips, everybody can jump on the Internet with their smartphones or laptops, thanks to the Wi-Fi hotspot option. Safety The 2023 edition also comes with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, a suite of hi-tech safety features designed to monitor your surroundings while driving. This includes Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, which uses radar technology to monitor the path in front of you while alerting you whenever vehicles or pedestrians are in your way. The 2023 Highlander Hybrid is not only fuel-efficient but also versatile and ready for adventures with its available AWD and sophisticated cabin. Come see what else this impressive Toyota SUV has to offer by getting in contact with us today at Cloninger Toyota.