Robbinsville – Citizens of Robbinsville voted on Tuesday, Nov. 2 to allow beer and wine sales, effectively ending Graham County’s status as the sole, remaining dry county in North Carolina after 73 years.
The passage moved the county’s status from “dry” to “moist,” meaning that at least one municipality sells alcohol, but it is not available county-wide.
The Graham Star caught up with a group of locals to learn what citizens think of the change and its potential effect on the town of Robbinsville. The town last allowed alcohol in 1948 and until the vote, only restaurants at resorts (Fontana Village, Tapoco Lodge, Snowbird Mountain Lodge) were allowed to sell alcohol in the county.
Question: What are your thoughts on Robbinsville voters deciding to allow the town to go wet after 73 years?
* “I think it’s really good. It will help out the town.” – Robenia Pollanen
* “I don’t agree with it.” – Rachel Collins
* “I think it’s going to cause trouble. I think to mix it with the drugs, it’s just going to cause more problems than what we already see.” – Cynthia Campbell
* “I don’t care for it. I don’t like the way it went myself.” – Leonard Gladden
* “We’re excited about it. I feel like our town is dying otherwise, and we have to progress somehow.” – Kurie Briggs
* “We’re stoked. If alcohol’s the way to do it, bring in the tourists and actually keep them here.” – Leigha Cole