By Jon Tharp, Broker · July 17, 2026
At a Glance
A burger joint is planning a new outpost in West Asheville, one of Buncombe County's fastest-growing food neighborhoods. The location points to the Haywood Road corridor, a walkable stretch of restaurants, breweries, and shops just …
By Jon Tharp, Broker · July 17, 2026
At a Glance
Panthertown Valley is a 6,311-acre U.S. Forest Service backcountry near Cashiers, nicknamed the "Yosemite of the East" for its granite domes and waterfalls. Friends of Panthertown, a nonprofit stewarding roughly 30 miles of trails, invites …
By Jon Tharp, Broker · July 17, 2026
At a Glance
The 2026 Smokies season brings big changes. Dollywood opens its $50 million NightFlight Expedition coaster, Anakeesta debuts a firefly SkyWalk, and Ripley's adds a dinosaur attraction. Meanwhile The Track in Pigeon Forge closes November 1 …
By Jon Tharp, Broker · July 17, 2026
At a Glance
Asheville is asking residents to help shape a streetscape restoration in Biltmore Village that repairs Helene damage and upgrades sidewalks, pedestrian safety, and accessibility while keeping the district's historic character. A drop-in feedback session runs …
By Jon Tharp, Broker · July 16, 2026
At a Glance
"Threads" is a fiber art exhibition at the Haywood County Arts Council's Haywood Handmade Gallery on Main Street in downtown Waynesville, running through Aug. 3, 2026. The free, public show features quilting, weaving, embroidery, and …
By Jon Tharp, Broker · July 16, 2026
At a Glance
The Black Mountain Blues Experience has announced its 2026 lineup, bringing a weekend of live blues to this small town in the Swannanoa Valley just east of Asheville in Buncombe County. The festival draws regional …
By Jon Tharp, Broker · July 16, 2026
At a Glance
Hammerhead worms are invasive flatworms with a half-moon head that have been in North Carolina since at least 1951 and are turning up in Jackson County gardens. Never cut one, because each piece can regenerate …
By Jon Tharp, Broker · July 16, 2026
At a Glance
Old Crab Day returned to the Cruso Community Center in Haywood County on July 11, 2026, after a decade away. Longtime resident Ray Ewart was crowned Old Crab, resolving a disputed 2005 title that split …
By Jon Tharp, Broker · July 16, 2026
At a Glance
Hendersonville, the seat of Henderson County, is one of Western North Carolina's most underrated summer destinations. At roughly 2,200 feet, it stays cooler than the Piedmont, with a walkable curving Main Street, apple orchards, DuPont …
By Jon Tharp, Broker · July 16, 2026
At a Glance
WorldAtlas named the ten best North Carolina towns for a two-day recharge, and Western NC mountain towns dominated the list. Bryson City, Brevard, Highlands, Black Mountain, and Blowing Rock all made the cut, praised for …