watauga

Horn in the West, the longest-running Revolutionary War outdoor drama in America, celebrates its 65th consecutive season this summer in Boone. Horn in the West runs from Saturday, June 25 through Saturday, Aug. 6 nightly except Mondays at the historic Daniel Boone Amphitheatre in downtown Boone. More than a million people have seen the reenactment since it began, and it has become a perennial summer must-see in Watauga County for residents and visitors alike.

Written by playwright Kermit Hunter in 1951, Horn in the West tells the story of American frontiersman Daniel Boone and the settlers who came to the Blue Ridge Mountains in search of freedom and escape from British tyranny. The show outlines the struggles of the early North Carolina colonists as they worked to establish their community during the turbulent years before and during the War for Independence.

A production of the Southern Appalachian Historical Association (S.A.H.A.), the show is the third oldest outdoor drama in the nation. Directed by Teresa Lee, the performance features a cast of 45, including veteran actors as well as young professional performers from across the country. This year�s show will feature live bagpipes.

Horn in the West guests are welcomed to arrive early to walk through the adjacent Daniel Boone Native Gardens, a 3-acre collection of North American native plants and landscape, including a small cabin that once belonged to the Boone family. Guests can also experience a glimpse of life in a small mountain town during the 18th century by visiting Hickory Ridge Museum. The museum gives visitors insight into daily life at the time, including activities such as blacksmithing, hearthside cooking, weaving, and more.