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If you're looking for outdoor adventure, scenic beauty, mountain crafts or just a relaxing weekend getaway, odds are there's something to tickle your fancy in Yancey County.
Distance
From Charlotte, the attractions mentioned in this article are 200-220 miles from Charlotte, about a three-hour drive (one way).
Getting there
Take Interstate 85 South to Gastonia; then U.S. 321 North to Hickory, then I-40 West to Exit 90. Turn right and follow the signs to U.S. 70. Drive west on U.S. 70, then turn onto N.C. 80 North. To visit Mount Mitchell State Park, turn south on the Blue Ridge Parkway. For other attractions, remain on N.C. 80 North.
To see and do
At 6,684 feet above sea level, Mount Mitchell is the highest peak east of the Mississippi, and Mount Mitchell State Park has been a popular Yancey County attraction for many years. While the view from the summit remains much as it has been, the view of the summit has recently undergone a dramatic change. Gone is the stone observation tower erected in 1960. It was replaced with a shorter, handicapped-accessible observation deck. About half the height of its predecessor, the deck is made of stone, and its appearance complements its location. A small museum, gift shop and snack bar are at the parking lot, near the start of the short, but steep, paved trail that leads to the top.
N.C. 80 continues north past the Blue Ridge Parkway, toward U.S. 19E. Along this short stretch is Roaring Fork Falls, one of the prettiest waterfalls in the N.C. High Country. A terraced cascade rushing through a heavily wooded terrain, Roaring Fork is both easy and difficult to photograph. Pictures can be taken from several vantage points, and the surrounding trees make the subject easy to frame. The challenge comes in trying to capture the height of the fall: Photos suggest the terraced falls come down a gentle slope; actually, the cascade plunges down a steep hillside.
At the turn for the waterfalls is Mount Mitchell Golf Course, a public course ranked among the top in the state. Considering its location, the course is surprisingly level. Top-flight accommodations, a restaurant serving international cuisine and a new pub also help to make the Mount Mitchell course an inviting place to spend time.
The Black Mountain Campgrounds are also located along N.C. 80, between the parkway and golf course. Forty-seven sites are available with picnic tables and tent pads. The campgrounds feature flush toilets, hot showers and an area for volleyball, horseshoes and other games. The South Toe River is right at hand for wading and fishing, and trails with such intriguing names as Devil's Den and Lost Cove Ridge beckon hikers.
A little farther north on N.C. 80 is the Mountain Farm, a 24-acre "agritourism" site. The farm's original focus was on growing blueberries. Organically raised goats, chickens and rabbits followed. More recently, attention has been given to growing French and English lavender. The owners let their whimsy carry them wherever it may when it comes to concocting a variety of handmade soaps, lotions, sachets, and health and beauty products, all of which may be purchased at the farm's gift shop.
Farther north on N.C. 80, a few miles past the intersection with U.S. 19E, is the EnergyXchange. Here, methane gas produced at an adjacent landfill is captured and used to heat greenhouses and to power glassblowing furnaces and pottery kilns. Resident artists use this energy to create decorative and functional items in glass or clay. These items, along with plants grown in the greenhouses, are displayed for sale in its art gallery. Tours of the facility are self-guided, and visitors are encouraged to chat with the artists in their studios.
