By Jon Tharp, Broker · June 23, 2026
At a Glance
Sylva, a town of about 2,578 in Jackson County, has become one of Western North Carolina's most talked-about mountain destinations. It holds one of only two cat museums in the country, North Carolina's first and …
By Jon Tharp, Broker · June 21, 2026
At a Glance
Twenty-five years ago, in 2001, the National Park Service released 25 elk in Haywood County's Cataloochee Valley, the first elk in the Southern Appalachians in more than 150 years. Twenty-seven more arrived from Canada in …
By Jon Tharp, Broker · June 17, 2026
At a Glance
June is one of the best months in the Western North Carolina mountains, with festivals nearly every weekend and the high country in full bloom. Highlights include the Taste of Scotland Festival in Franklin, the …
By Jon Tharp, Broker · June 16, 2026
At a Glance
Hatley Pointe is a boutique ski and snowboard resort near Mars Hill in Madison County, NC, reopened for the 2024 to 2025 season after owners Deborah and David Hatley spent roughly $12 million rebuilding the …
By Jon Tharp, Broker · June 1, 2026
At a Glance
Carolina Foothills Tours launched over Memorial Day weekend 2026 in Polk County, NC, offering themed guided excursions across Tryon and Saluda. Founded by three Chicago-area transportation veterans who fell in love with the …
Photo by Wes McFee (@wrmcfee) on Unsplash
By Jon Tharp, Broker · May 28, 2026
At a Glance
Pack Memorial Public Library in downtown Asheville now features three new murals covering 3,300 square feet, installed as part of the Paint NC initiative, a statewide public …
By Jon Tharp, Broker · May 26, 2026
Western North Carolina is wine country. That might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about the region — the fly fishing, the hiking, the …
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Photo by Wes Hicks (@sickhews) on Unsplash
By Jon Tharp, Broker · May 26, 2026
At a Glance
WorldAtlas named Blowing Rock, NC the quirkiest town in North Carolina, pointing to its gravitational mystery attraction at Mystery Hill, Tweetsie Railroad theme park, a 15-stop downtown …
Photo by K F (@ford_563) on Unsplash
By Jon Tharp, Broker · May 24, 2026
At a Glance
Lake Lure, NC officially reopened its lake on May 23, 2026, more than a year after Hurricane Helene caused widespread damage. The town is launching a full …
Photo by Valentin Zickner (@vzickner) on Unsplash
By Jon Tharp, Broker · May 24, 2026
At a Glance
Spring bloom season in Highlands, NC runs from late April through early June, several weeks later than lower WNC towns due to the town's 4,118-foot elevation. The …