Not really. A few years ago I 'got wind' - in passing - that Popcorn was, on occasion, in and out of Maggie. Just sayin..
"They are hillbillies too, but I doubt any of them know how to make moonshine."
Oh..I don't know (grin). I've "heard" that some old folk in Maggie know how to make it. They're just to old to do that kind of work anymore.
"No, old Popcorn is up near Dell Rio, up in the mountains where they don’t have taffy making and sovenir shops — where they still run hounds for bear and ‘coons, and still show up for Church and “All Day Singing and Dinner on the Ground.”"
Hell I like taffy. The souvenir shops I can do without. In the 'outlying areas' (Plott Balsams, High Top, Soco etc.) around Maggie, young'ns still hunt coon, bear, hog, and possum (with dogs) on a regular basis. And yes all day church meetins' and dinners still occur as needed.
"When they ain’t making moonshine and betting on those fighting roosters."
Old traditions are a good thing.
"Those folks up there are pretty independent, they don’t pay much attention to laws and the stock market!!!'
That's true. I have kin (near and distant) in Macon, Jackson, Haywood, Madison, Henderson, and Buncombe Counties of North Carolina. I know exactly how a lot of mountain folk are and how they can be.
/jasper
LOL.
It doesn’t get any more hillbilly than Madison County.
Up until three years ago I lived in Greene County, on the border with Madison County, N.C. Madison County definitely has a reputation for moonshining and even a few longstanding feuds.
I thought Maggie Valley had been pretty much overrun by folks from other states, but I’m sure there are still natives.
No doubt Popcorn has roots up in that area too. But I think he lives in Cocke County, which is the equivilent of Madison County N.C. He probably sells his ‘shine over there too.
Thing is, Popcorn has been open about it for years. One of his kinfolks from Cocke County showed me a video he made about making moonshine. It was hilarious to watch, especially his hillbilly accent.
Did you see the photos of Popcorn posted below in this thread?