Our Cities & Towns

A Trip Through The High Country

Newland

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 extremely 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 cold winter months when snowfall and manmade 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 yearround tourism-generated 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 located 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 for its commitment to sustainablity. Its comprehensive degree offerings served more than 18,000 students last year.

BOONE

The Town of Boone visitor can desire. Boone serves as the seat of has long been a favorWatauga County and is ite vacation destination, home to Appalachian beginning in the 1880s State University. The town when Southerners came acquired its name from here to escape the sumthe famous pioneer and mer heat. Today, Boone explorer Daniel Boone, is recognized by travel who on several occasions journalists as an “ultimate camped within the pres- Boone Fourth of July Parade outdoor adventure destient city limits as he trav- nation” in the Southeast. eled through the area on his way to Ken- The Town of Boone was incorporated in tucky in the late 1700s. Through the years, 1872 and its current population is 17,186. Boone has become the hub of commerce At 3,333 feet, Boone has the highest elevain the North Carolina High Country area, tion of any town of its size east of the Misoffering virtually everything a resident or sissippi River.

BLOWING ROCK

The Town of Blowing ing. Its Main Street and Rock is only three adjacent Town Park has square miles, yet is home been a tourist destination to more than 100 shops, for more than 100 years. about two dozen restau- Known as “the Crown rants and nearly 20 ho- of the Blue Ridge,” this tels and inns. Blowing quaint mountain village Rock was named “Pretti- sits astride the Eastern est Small Town in North Continental Divide at a Carolina” in a poll of in- Blowing Rock Fourth of July Parade cool elevation of 3,500 state travel professionals to 4,000 feet above sea and writers, and in 2008 level and has a permanent the town was named a “Favorite Southern year-round population of approximately Destination” by readers of Southern Liv- 1,425. It was incorporated in 1889.

BANNER ELK

The Town of Banner College and features a Elk is a beautiful lively arts and cultural mountain town away scene, complete with from the busy crowds an intimate pedestrian where one can still shopping district of have access to the finer upscale boutiques and conveniences found in outstanding restaularger metropolitan ar- rants. The town was eas. Located in Avery An Aerial Shot of Banner Elk first settled in 1825 County, it is surrounded and incorporated in by some of the highest 1911. Today, it has a mountains east of the Rockies, including population of about 1,000 full-time resiGrandfather Mountain and Beech Moun- dents. Banner Elk sits at 3,739 feet above tain. Banner Elk is home to Lees-McRae 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 fourseasons 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

n BOONE: 264-2225 • 870 W. King Street, Suite A Open Mon.-Fri. 8:30-4:30 • www.boonechamber.com n BLOWING ROCK: 295-7851 • 132 Park Avenue Open Mon.-Fri. 9-5 • www.blowingrock.com n BANNER ELK: 898-8395 • 100 West Main St. Open Mon.-Sun. 10-5 • www.bannerelk.org n BEECH MOUNTAIN: 387-9283 • 403-A Beech Mtn Pky. Open Mon.-Sat. 9-5 • www.beechmtn.com n AVERY-BANNER ELK: 898-5605 • 4501 Tynecastle Hwy. Suite 2. • Open Mon.-Sun. Various Hours

www.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-theart 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.

HIKING

BIKING

AND SO MUCH MORE... Come summer Beech Mountain offers cooler temperatures and endless outdoor fun. Miles of hiking and biking trails, a downhill bike park, fi shing, birding, kayaking, scenic lift rides and those breathtaking vistas, so come enjoy summer in NC’s coolest town.

Avery Fine Art & Master Crafts Festival

Unique hand-crafted wares from regional fine artists and master crafters

Sugar Mountain Resort

July 16-18 | August 13-15

44th Annual

Woolly Worm Festival

Worm Races Cash Prizes . Crafts Food . Rides Saturday 9am-5pm Sunday 9am-4pm

Downtown Banner Elk October 16 & 17

www.WoollyWorm.com www.AveryCounty.com