Banner Elk North Carolina Balcony of the Blue Ridge Mountains
Banner Elk North Carolina Balcony of the Blue Ridge Mountains
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The Town of Banner Elk is a quiet one traffic light town but is more alive than any other small town I have ever experienced. It's scenic beauty set in the valley between Grandfather Mountain, Sugar Mountain and Beech Mountain. As you stroll down by the statue of the Banner Elk in the center of downtown you will pass the fire station, and many local fine dining restaurants.The area is breathtaking in all four seasons and has an abundance of actvivities, attractions, festivals and events, skiing, shopping, upscale exquisite restaurants, and much more. |  |
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The area surrounding the Elk RIver was inhabited by Cherokee Indians before western settlement, although no evidence of a permanent Cherokee settlement has ever been found it is likely the area was used for hunting and fishing, The first permanent settlement was established by Martin L. Banner 1848. Although the Banner family originally came from Wales, Martin Banner moved from Forsyth County located in the piedmont region of North Carolina. Eventually, the Banner family grew to 55 members, and the area where they lived became known as Banner’s Elk. This name was later shortened to Banner Elk when the town was incorporated in 1911. |  | |
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Sugar Mountain begins its 40th Anniversary offering many winter sports and many other activities on the mountain for skiers and snowboarders. Twenty slopes and trails spread over 115 skiable acres provide for all levels of skiing and snowboarding. Beginners can enjoy the Magic Carpet area, Easy Street, and Lower Flying Mile, while the experts can challenge Tom Terrific, Boulder Dash, and Whoopdedoo. For those who just want to cruise the open slopes, try Big Red, there is terrain for all abilities. The lift system can transport 8,800 people up the mountain each hour. The Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) and the American Association of Snowboard Instructors (AASI) member school uses the American Teaching System and offers both group and private lessons daily. Test your skill on one of the many hits in Sugar's Terrain Park. If the tabletop doesn't challenge you perhaps the spine, 1/4 pipe or railslide may. Sugar Mountain offers a 10,000 square foot refrigerated outdoor ice skating rink, and three lanes for snow tubing. |  | |
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| Banner Elk is in the epicenter of the high country and is the ski capitol of the South East with ski slopes at Sugar Mountain and Beech Mountain. Both ski slopes offer ski rentals, ski shops, snowboarding, a place to eat, ice-skating, ski patrol, snow tubing and ski and snowboard learning centers. There are tow other winter sports places to visit while in the High Country, The First is Hawksnest a place where families can go snow tubing in Foscoe North Carolina. The Second destination is past Linville called Jonas Ridge Snow tubing which provides a quick thrill down five snow tubing lanes. This region of the high country of Banner Elk attracts thousands of people who love the great outdoors, southern culture, a perfect weather climate, friendly citizens, and year round four season activites and fun. |  | |
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Visit North Carolina's first original theme park, and experience the days of the wild west. Climb aboard the historic steam locomotive train for an unforgettable three-mile journey through the scenic Blue Ridge mountains of Blowing Rock North Carolina. Tweetsie Railroad also has amusement rides for all ages and live entertainment throughout the park; such as the musical show Can-Can girls at the Palace Saloon, or ride the chair lift to Miner's Mountain where you can pan for gold, feed the animals at the Deer Park, and have what they call "old-fashioned fun". Tweetsie Railroad is a unique attraction that allows children and families to explore their imaginations and a whole lot more. |  | |
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In the small town of Banner Elk North Carolina there are many fine dining choices with a variety of menus. If you are just entering Banner Elk coming up the mountain, the Tynecastle shopping area has choices such as Pappy's Barbeque, Melange Bistro, Nick's Restaurant and Bar, Hearthstone Tavern and Grill, and Bellas Italian. At the base of Sugar Mountain you will find Papa's pizza, Scott's Pizza Place and the Sugarfoot Grill Restaurant and Bar, Tokyo Express. Further down highway 184 (Tynecastle Highway) entering the downtown Banner Elk area you are sure to find a great meal at the local restaurants of Stonewall's, The Banner Elk Cafe, Lousiana Purchase Rstaurant, Zuzda's Tapas, Sorrento's World Famous Italian Bistro, The Bayou Smokehouse and Grill, Artisnal, The Mexicano, and Trent's Seafood and Grill, and Jackalope's View. |  | |
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In the Fall season Banner Elk holds many festivals including the Octoberfest at Sugar Mountain. Join the festivities of dancing to polka drinking german beer, eating bratwurst, as well as taking ski lift rides to see the fall foliage with a great view at the top of sugar mountain. This is a family festival and kids are welcome there are even blow up jump around games for the kids to play on. |  | |
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Since 1978, residents of Banner Elk,
 MOUNTAIN TV GUIDE VIDEOWoolly Worm Festival in Banner Elk NC |  | |
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Sugarfest is a great way to kick start the winter season. The two-day long festival in December is packed with fun winter activities for all ages to enjoy, and coincides with Sugar Mountain’s Annual Adult Preseason Ski Clinic. Ski & snowboard equipment from just about every manufacturer displayed in store showrooms will be available for demos. At Sugarfest, the area’s most talented ice sculptors go head to head in an ice sculpting contest. Witness with your eyes as blocks of ice become works of art. After a hard day of skiing and snowboarding there's nothing better than good food, warm drinks, ice sculpting, and fun music all available at Sugarfest, at Sugar Mountain. "Ready get set go!" is what you'll hear if you enter the snowball eating contest at the festival. You'll have two minutes to eat as many tasty snowball look a-likes as your stomach can stomach! Make sure you stick around for the end of the festival to watch a spectacular fireworks display. MOUNTAIN TV GUIDESugarfest A Weekend of Winter Fun at Sugar Mountain Resort |  | |
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Towering 5,946 feet above northwest North Carolina, Grandfather Mountain is operated as a scenic travel attraction and is one of the world's most environmentally diverse nature preserves. Marvel at 360-degree views of mountain ridge after mountain ridge cascading to the horizon and let our knowledgeable staff help you find your own perfect mountain adventure. Beautiful mountain scenery Mile High Swinging Bridge Environmental Habitats for native wildlife Black Bears, River Otters, Cougars, Eagles and Deer Nature Museum South's best alpine hiking trails Picnicking Naturalist Programs |  | |
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Linville Caverns was opened for public touring in 1937. Since that time many upgrades to the pathways and lighting system have enhanced the safe touring experience that now exists. Courteous and experienced guides take you into the subterranean world, giving you the history of the caverns and allowing you to view the grand work of nature. We invite you to visit often and experience the beauty of these age-old mountains from the inside! |  | |
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High in the mountains of
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Scenic, optical illusions and natural phenomenon; a remarkable defiance of gravity where you can see a ball roll uphill, and where folks are pulled from an upright position to an uncanny standing angle of nearly 45°. This strange phenomenon has been amusing and puzzling visitors to Mystery Hill for generations. Since there is a variety of things to see and do. Mystery Hill is a family fun center that offers fun for children an dults of all ages.You'll find a hall full of puzzles, hands-on experiments and optical illusions at The Hall of Mystery. Exhibits are based on physics and other science and math theories. Leave your shadow on the wall and at the Bubble-Rama exhibit, encapsulate a friend in a bubble. The Spooky Spigot, Magic Lightbulb, Hologram and The Flying Mirror are all in the Hall of Mystery. You'll enjoy the Hall of Mystery where you'll find exhibits that make you take a second look.At the same location you will find the American heritage museum that is now used to portray life in the late 1800's to early 1900's of middle class mountain families. There is also the Native artifacts museum housing over 50,000 pieces of authentic Native American artifacts is The Native American Artifacts Museum. Almost every time period of American Indian history is represented in this fascinating exhibit that took over 70 years to collect. From arrowheads and effigy pipes to bowls, celts and awls, this is one of the largest collections of its kind in North Carolina. At Mytsery Hill Lane you and your family can find out about local history as well as have a good time for all who visit and experience this fun filled place in the mountains of Blowing Rock North Carolina. |   | |
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Widely recognized as a historical landmark and becoming a houselhold name to vactioners, The Mast General Store has nine locations all over the high country, including the original store located in Valle Crucis, North Carolina. The Mast General Store is a modeled after the general store concept from the 1800s when mountain settlers came to rely on general stores to keep them in touch and supplied. Since 1883, Mast General Store has played a key role in the community surrounding Valle Crucis its original store in a rural community. The Mast General Store sells commodities, such as old-time hearth and home goods, outdoor clothing and gear, footwear, work clothes, old-fashioned wind-up toys, regional books and music, honey, and more than 500 varieties of old-fashioned candy. |  | |
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Experience 19th century history of life in Banner Elk and the High Country in the home of Samuel Henry Banner, one of Banner Elk's original settlers. Wander back in time through the re-created household of the 1870-80s. The Banner House Museum is one of three sites in Avery County that were added to the state and national Civil War Trail in 2008. The Banner Elk Heritage Musuem is a charitable and philanthropic entity, which devotes its energies and funds in an endeavor to protect the heritage of the greater Banner Elk area and strives to ensure that the infrastructure and cosmetic appearance of Banner Elk remains appealing to our local residents and visitors while retaining the "small town" atmosphere. The heritage of the Greater Banner Elk area will be recorded and maintained by the Foundation for future generations. |  | |
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Banner Elk is also where people come to choose and cut their own Christmas tree at one of the many tree farms in the area. The busiest time in for choose n cut start right before the Thanksgiving holiday and runs until Chrsitmas Eve. Choose and cut farms will cut your tree down, wrap the tree, and place it in your car. Some farms give you hot cider or hot chocolate and even have hayrides and tours to make it an experience. The last few years the White House Christmas tree came form North Carolina. |  | |
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Banner Elk offers a wide range of vacation accommodations such as hotels, motels, vacation rentals, and bed n breakfasts. The Best Western Mountain Lodge is the largest Hotel in the area. The Best Western Mountain Lodge is found in the heart of the High Country region and is one of the, most up-to-date properties in the area and is minutes from Banner Elk’s downtown main street. Celebrated for breathtaking mountain scenery, enjoyable four-season weather, notable attractions, exciting outdoor recreation, and a unique cultural heritage, the High Country is an invigorating place to explore and experience. Conveniently located along one of the area’s main thoroughfares Highway 184, the Best Western Mountain Lodge is within minutes of a number of restaurants and shopping venues, and just a short drive to the Blue Ridge Parkway and all the High Country has to offer. The property boasts beautiful views of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountain region. The Best Western Mountain Lodge offers guests the comforts and relaxed accommodations our hotels are known for. |  | |
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The picturesque campus of
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There are many gated communities in the town and near by, attractive availbale lots with a view, condominiums, and homes for sale in Banner Elk. Come visit us in Banner Elk and find out what a remarkable place this little town in the mountains truly is. Before you know it you will be visiting over and over again and soon realizing the draw this place has and you'll be looking to find a place in Banner Elk. |  | |
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