COMMUNITY
(Burnsville in Yancey County and Spruce Pine in Mitchell County)
The Cove at Celo Mountain is located 45 minutes outside of Asheville and just off the Blue Ridge Parkway on Celo Knob of the Black Mountain Range between two quintessential American small towns, Burnsville and Spruce Pine.
Burnsville, the county seat of Yancey County, has a charming townsquare, unique galleries and shops, an historic movie theater, locally-owned restaurants, and the oldest continuously running summer playhouse in North Carolina. The Mountain Heritage Center houses studios for the visual and performing arts, and the Toe River Arts Council gallery supports and showcases the works of our artists – many of whom are internationally and nationally acclaimed. Burnsville is the home base for the Quilt Trails of Western North Carolina, which receives corporate underwriting funds from Mountain Lifestyle Communities (The Cove at Celo Mountain.) It is home to the Mountain Farm, a sustainable 24-acre blueberry, lavender, and goat farm, and organic farms such as Fire Fly Farm and Green Toe Farm that contribute to our popular Farmers’ Market on Saturdays mid-April through fall just off town square. Yancey County is also home to Mount Mitchell, the highest peak of the Appalachian Mountains and the highest peak in eastern North America.
Spruce Pine, the county seat of Mitchell County, has a unique downtown divided by an upper level and lower-level street with heritage trains running along the lower-level street and the ancient South Toe River flowing through the town. Hometown author, Gloria Houston, gifted the town with the rights to her award-winning children’s book, The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree. The resulting project, “The Home of the Perfect Christmas Tree”, has created nearly 100 small businesses that supply excellent handmade gifts for the upper-level street store of the same name. Mitchell County hosts several gem and mineral festivals and shows, fishing and fly-fishing events and festivals, and is home to beautiful galleries and working studios of some of North Carolina’s most acclaimed crafters. Oak Moon Creamery in the picturesque small town of Bakersville is a favorite for goat cheese at farmers’ markets and The Book Exchange and the café in beautiful Little Switzerland are an experience you won’t want to miss. Mitchell County is home to the internationally renowned Penland School of Crafts.
The highways and byways – US 26, 19 E, 80 S and 221/226 Bypass and US 70- that pass through these counties (including the Blue Ridge Parkway) have been listed by Buncombe County Tourism (Asheville) as Top 3 most picturesque drives in the early fall. Hunting, Fishing, Fly-fishing, rock climbing, hiking, tubing, rafting, snow skiing, horseback riding, golfing, biking, motorcycling, canoeing, kayaking, are among the sports enjoyed by enthusiasts in this area.
Burnsville links
http://www.yanceychamber.com/
http://crc.yanceycountync.gov/HeritageCenter/heritageCenter.html
http://main.nc.us/yancey/Travel_Tourism/index.html
Mount Mitchell State Park http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/momi/main.php
Festivals and Events
Mount Mitchell Crafts Fair (attendance exceeded 40,000 this year),
Toe River Arts Council Studio Tours
Old Timey Fall Festival
Java Jam concerts held on Friday nights in our Burnsville Town Center,
Leslie Riddle Festival – celebrating the local musical genius behind the Carter family of country music fame,
Empty Bowl benefits - which were begun by a local artist and his wife and have raised millions of dollars worldwide for the relief of hunger
Carolina Mountain Literary Festival
The Quilt Trails Road Rally
The Farmer’s Market
Toe River Studio Tour and TRAC Gallery
Mountain Farm Lavender Festival
Firefly Farm Repasts by the River
Green Toe Farm Dinners
The Arts – Galleries, Gift Shops, Theaters for Local/Regional Arts and Crafts
Toe River Arts Council
The Quilt Trails of Western North Carolina
The Design Gallery (Yummi Yarns)
The Parkway Playhouse
The Yancey Theater
Unique Shops
ATOC – A Touch of Cass
Robert Allan Design Company (formerly Black Bear Trading Company)
DK Puttyroots
David’s Limited
Clodhoppers
The Grapevine
Hammond’s Antiques
In the Garden
Something Special Gift Shop and Monkey Business Toy Store
Prices Creek General Store Fox Country Store
Restaurants
The Garden Deli
Appalachian Java/WIFI
NuWray Inn
The Hilltop Café
The Orchid Tearoom
Mary Jane’s
Cricket’s
Anchor’s Away
Little Tokyo
Bantam Chef
El Ranchero Mexican Food
Spruce Pine links
http://www.mitchell-county.com/
http://www.sprucepine.com/joomla/index.php
Home of the Perfect Christmas Tree http://www.homeoftheperfectchristmastree.org/
Penland School of Crafts http://www.penland.org/
Festivals and Events
Fire on Black Mountain Festival (Blacksmithing Celebration)
Carolina Theater
Toe River Storytelling Festival
Toe River Studio Tour and TRAC Gallery
Rhododendron Festival
Mineral and Gem Shows
Mineral and Gem Festivals
Project Healing Waters Outing (Fly-fishing)
Paddlin the Nolichucky
Troutacular Festival Spruce Pine Potter Market
Live Music at Burleson Park
Bakersville Creek Walk Art Festival
The Arts – Galleries, Gift Shops, Theaters for Local/Regional Arts and Crafts
Crimson Laurel Gallery
Anita's Atelier
Penland Gallery
Dianne Borde-Sutherland-Cane Creek Pottery
Blue Otter Gallery
Twisted Laurel Gallery
Trillum Gallery
Gem Mountain Gemstone Mine
The Altapass Orchard (live music and clogging - Blue Ridge Parkway)
Little Switzerland Book Exchange
OakMoon Farm and Creamery
Restaurants
Knife and Fork Restaurant
Upper Street Cafe
Grassy Creek Golf & Country Club Restaurant
DT's Blue Ridge Java
Tokyo Restaurant
El Ranchero Restaurant
Toe River Lodge & Cafe
Little Switzerland Cafe
