Mitchell County has what many economist consider the most
remunerative of lawful industries: tourism. Tourism is cash,
right now, and is rarely subject to economic downturns (just
political ones). Mitchell County has the
Blue Ridge Parkway on its
southern border with its intersection of NC-226 - a very
popular byway of tourists. Along Mitchell's western border is
the North Toe River - one of the most beautiful rivers in
America. And up in the northeaster corner is the famous
Roan Mountain Rhododendron
Gardens - a place of stunning beauty every spring.
The two principal communities are Bakersville, the county seat, and
Spruce Pine, home to an unusual number of artists. There are a
number of art-related events throughout the year (yes, even in
the winter months) and you can view the current schedule on the
Toe
River Arts Council web site.
A favorite attraction of ours is the
Queen Anne's Lace Kaleidoscopes shop. These are mostly
handcrafted of optical quality (first surface) sealed mirrors.
The Roan Mountain Rhododendron Gardens is one of the most
beautiful, natural Rhododendron Gardens you'll see. There is a
one-mile paved trail meandering throughout the Gardens, part of
which is wheelchair navigable. We have a special write-up at
Mitchell_Roan_Mtn.
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(continued from column 1)
Another annual spring attraction is the
Saylor
Lake RV Park near Bakersville. Saylor Lake is their private,
5 acre lake. Its springtime attraction is that it is completely
surrounded by apple trees and, of course, apple trees bloom and
emit a wonderful scent every spring. The Saylors are open
year-round and actually have RV campers in the winter months.
Asheville will probably be your launch point in your search for a
new home in this mountain paradise. In
WNC-Tour-Guide.com,
our sister web site, you
can let you computer mouse lead you to descriptions of the many
attractions and adventures Western North Carolina mountains have
to offer. Then via our directories of the real estate agencies
in each of our mountain counties, you can contact someone to
learn what may be available to meet your needs, desires and
budget. Or, fill out our simple form
and we will contact those agencies we feel may be best staffed
to assist you in your search. And, while you're looking, we have
included links to convenient, comfortable hotels and motels any
of which would delight in being your host. And, yes, you can
make instant, on-line reservations and receive an immediate,
printed confirmation. |
