Our Cities & Towns

from High Country Press Summer Visitor Guide

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Linville Sugar Mountain Seven Devils Beech Mountain Banner Elk Grandfather Mountain Boone Sugar Grove Blowing Rock

The High Country name was the result of a marketing effort in the early 1980s aimed at pulling the area together and creating an identity for locals and visitors alike to embrace. The area’s Watauga and Avery counties are home to the heart of the High Country -- and the towns of Boone, Blowing and Banner Elk. It stretches from Mitchell county in the west over to Ashe, Alleghany and Wilkes counties in the east.

AVERY COUNTY

Avery County was the last of North Carolina’s 100 counties to be formed in 1911. It was named for Waightstill Avery, a colonel in the American Revolution. The county has a total area of 247 square miles and is rural and mountainous, with all of the county’s terrain located within the Appalachian Mountains range. The county contains local attractions such as Grandfather Mountain, Grandfather Mountain State Park, Linville Gorge Wilderness, Linville Falls, Pisgah National Forest and the Blue Ridge Parkway, all of which attract large numbers of visitors. In October, the annual “Woolly Worm” festival at the old school in downtown Banner Elk draws visitors from around the world. The Grandfather Mountain Highland Games is held each year the first full weekend after July 4 and is one of the largest Scottish gatherings outside of Scotland. Ski Resorts are immensely popular tourist destinations in the winter months when snowfall and man-made snow create ideal skiing conditions. Second homes, condominiums, rental properties, hotel-motel lodging, bed and breakfasts, campgrounds and real estate in general are critically important sources of jobs, income and tax revenue. The brilliant fall colors and foliage of the surrounding mountains, winter sports, mountain bicycling, hiking, horseback riding, warm weather camping, hiking, wildlife viewing, hunting and searching for geological finds all make for a year-round tourismgenerated and regular real estate market.

WATAUGA COUNTY

Watauga County was formed in 1849 and named for its Watauga River. It is said that the name originates from a Native American word, various translations of which include “beautiful water,” whispering waters,” “village of many springs” and “river of islands,” to name a few. With a total of 313 square miles, Watauga County is extremely mountainous. All of its terrain is within the Appalachian Mountains and its highest point is Grandfather Mountain’s Calloway Peak. It’s county seat and largest community, the Town of Boone, sits at 3,333 feet above sea level — the highest elevation of any city in the eastern United States with a population more than 10,000. Boone is home to Appalachian State University, which is one of 16 schools in the University of North Carolina system. It is nationally recognized for offering high quality education at a great value to its students, as well as its commitment to sustainablity. Its extensive degree offerings served more than 20,000 students last year.

BOONE

The Town of Boone serves as the seat of Watauga County and is home to Appalachian State University. The town acquired its name from the famous pioneer and explorer Daniel Boone, who on several occasions camped within the present city limits as he traveled through the area on his way to Kentucky in the late 1700s. Through the years, Boone has become the hub of commerce in the North Carolina High Country area, offering virtually everything a resi-

dent or visitor can desire. Boone has long been a favorite vacation destination, beginning in the 1880s when Southerners came here to escape the summer heat. Today, Boone is recognized by travel journalists as an Boone Fourth of July Parade “ultimate outdoor adventure destination” in the Southeast. The Town of Boone was incorporated in 1872 and its current population is 17,186. At 3,333 feet, Boone has the highest elevation of any town of its size east of the Mississippi River.

BLOWING ROCK

The Town of Blowing Rock is only three square miles, yet is home to more than 100 shops, about two dozen restaurants and nearly 20 hotels and inns. Blowing Rock was named “Prettiest Small Town in North Carolina” in a poll of instate travel professionals and writers, and in 2008 the town was named a “Favorite Southern Destination” by readers of Southern Liv-

ing. Its Main Street and adjacent Town Park has been a tourist destination for more than 100 years. Known as “the Crown of the Blue Ridge,” this quaint mountain village sits astride the Eastern Continental Divide at a Blowing Rock Fourth of July Parade cool elevation of 3,500 to 4,000 feet above sea level and has a permanent yearround population of approximately 1,425. It was incorporated in 1889.

BANNER ELK

The Town of Banner Elk is a beautiful mountain town away from the busy crowds where one can still have access to the finer conveniences found in larger metropolitan areas. Located in Avery County, it is surrounded by some of the highest mountains east of the Rockies, including Grandfather Mountain and Beech Mountain. Banner Elk is home to

Lees-McRae College and features a lively arts and cultural scene, complete with an intimate pedestrian shopping district of upscale boutiques and outstanding restaurants. An Aerial Shot of Banner Elk The town was first settled in 1825 and incorporated in 1911. Today, it has a population of about 1,000 fulltime residents. Banner Elk sits at 3,739 feet above sea level.

SUGAR MOUNTAIN

The Village of Sugar Mountain was incorporated as a township in 1988, and has grown easily into the perfect resort destination in the North Carolina High Country. The four-seasons resort community debuted in 1968, anchored by the south’s flagship winter ski resort. Today, Sugar Mountain is known for its spring, summer and fall activities, too. The fabulous golf course opened for play in 1974 and was recently rated #2 short course in the USA.. The par-64 layout maximizes every view, every mountain brook and every stand of rhododendron and forest on the 60-acre site. The course features nine par threes, eight par fours and a single par five. The tennis at Sugar is just as spectacular. Six courts, meticulously maintained of fast-dry, Har-tru clay, are wildly popular from May through October. And, like the golf, the tennis facilities are open to everyone, either on a pay-as-you-go basis, or economical season pass options. Perhaps Sugar Mountain’s greatest allure, however, is its location. Central to the Blue Ridge Parkway and the heralded resort towns of Blowing Rock, Boone, Banner Elk and Beech Mountain, Sugar Mountain is arguably the perfect spot for every High Country adventure. Hundreds of condominiums, town homes, chalets and cabins are available to visitors at very affordable prices. Hiking, whitewater rafting, cycling and more are available, too. Dining out in the region is absolutely world class. Discover a rare place of tranquility, beauty and great times. All that and more waits just for you on Sugar Mountain. Come share their world!

Chambers of Commerce

BOONE: 828-264-2225 • 149 Jefferson Rd. • Mon.-Fri. 8:30-4:30 • boonechamber.com

BLOWING ROCK: 828-295-7851 • 132 Park Avenue • Mon.-Fri. 9-5 • blowingrock.com

BANNER ELK: 828-898-8395 • 100 Main St. W. • Mon.-Sat. 11-2:30 • bannerelk.org

BEECH MOUNTAIN: 828-387-9283 • 403-A Beech Mtn Pky. • Mon.-Sat. 9-5 • beechmtn.com

AVERY COUNTY: 828-898-5605 • 4501 Tynecastle Hwy. #2. • Mon.-Fri. 10-4 • averycounty.com

BEECH MOUNTAIN

At an elevation of 5,526 feet above sea level, Beech Mountain is the highest incorporated community east of the Mississippi River. This year the Town of Beech Mountain celebrated it 40th Anniversary. Originally conceived as a resort community, the Town is home to over 2200 second homes, many of which are available for rent, as well as 350 full-time residents. Over 50 businesses call the mountain home as well, including a ski resort and the much-beloved Land of Oz theme park. A visit to the Town offers exciting outdoor recreation and mile-high relaxation. In summer, adventure seekers flock to the Emerald Outback at Beech Mountain, a trail park which features more than eight miles of gorgeous trails near the top of the mountain. Hiking, mountain biking and trail running are prevalent in the Emerald Outback, as well as on several other miles of in-town trails maintained by the parks and recreation department. Downhill mountain biking trails, complete with lift service, are available during the warmer months at Beech Mountain Resort. Those trails range from beginner to advanced. There’s also fishing, golfing and the town’s Buckeye Recreation Center - activities include indoor and outdoor tennis, volleyball and a state-of-the-art playground. And there’s also a modern fitness center and indoor basketball. Families and seniors also covet summer vacations on Beech enjoying 100-mile mountain vistas and mild summer temperatures that average in the low to mid 70s. The Visitor Center next to Town Hall is open six days per week, and provides information about the town and High Country region.

Live Music • Gallery Exhibits • Cultural Events

EXPERIENCE THE ARTS IN ASHE COUNTY, NC

Fridays in the Park • June 17 & Aug. 19 • Free Live Music Fiddlers Convention • July 22-23 • Bands, jamming, prizes! Studio Tour • August 6-7 • Visit local artists’ studios! Art on the Mountain • Sep. 24 • Art & Craft Vendors Downtown West Jefferson Gallery Crawl Second Fridays, 5pm - 7pm VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR INFORMATION & MORE EVENTS AND CONCERTS WWW.ASHECOUNTYARTS.ORG | 336-846-2787