Burnsville NC “Heart of the High Country”

Town of Burnsville North Carolina
Known for its beautiful town square, Burnsville is also the county seat for Yancey County. At an elevation of 2,815 feet Burnsville enjoys beautiful vistas of Mt. Mitchell and 18 additional peaks within Yancey County that exceed 6300 feet. There are also over 100 miles of hiking trails and plenty of back roads to explore by bicycle, motorcycle or car. Nearby attractions include Asheville’s Biltmore House, Grandfather Mountain, and Wolf Laurel Ski Resort all of which are less than an hour’s drive. You will find that you do not have to travel at all to enjoy natural beauty, easy pace and a taste of well preserved mountain life that is Burnsville.

 

Parkway Playhouse Theatre
PROFESSOR WILLIAM RAYMOND TAYLOR, in 1947, succeeded in founding Parkway Playhouse, originally known as Burnsville Playhouse, Inc. and School of Dramatic Arts, the first of its kind in the South. A professor of English at Woman’s College of the University of North Carolina (WCUNC) in Greensboro, he not only took on the arduous task of planning the courses of study for the new venture, but he planned the complete conversion of the old Burnsville High School gymnasium into a well equipped theatre. Because of his knowledge of the many fields connected with the theatrical profession, he became widely recognized as an authority, and he served as consultant on theatre and stage design for many architects.

Penland School of Crafts
Penland School of Crafts is a national center for craft education dedicated to helping people live creative lives. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, Penland offers one-, two-, and eight-week workshops in books & paper, clay, drawing, glass, iron, metals, photography, printmaking and letterpress, textiles, and wood. The school also sponsors artists’ residencies, community education programs, and a craft gallery.

Carolina Mountains Literary Festival
Our mission is to bring together authors, readers of all ages, novice writers, listeners and learners in small, intimate settings. We do not see ourselves as an academic festival, though we seek to advance authors of literary quality. Nor are we a book fair in which the primary objective is to sell books. One of our goals is to raise awareness of works of literary significance from smaller presses. We do focus on regional writers, though not exclusively. And yes, we do like an occasional feather in our cap. But overall, our aspiration is to create a little literary community which is in dialog with readers, aspiring writers, and established authors about craft and ideas of sustaining merit. Another goal is to make sure our authors are having good time. In the best scenario, authors leave the festival feeling renewed and rededicated to their work. So frequently when an author writes in isolation, it is hard to believe that his/her work is making an impact on people and society. But situating authors and readers together in close quarters, as our festival does, it is possible for authors to hear stories of how their work has influenced people. It’s not just signing a book, it’s making a human connection

 

Mt.Mitchell Crafts Fair
People for miles around know that the place to be in August, if you have a true appreciation for traditional crafts, is the historic downtown of Burnsville. Whether you are looking for beautiful handmade quilts, pottery, woven baskets, or most any other handmade craft, a trip to the Mt. Mitchell Crafts Fair will be well worth your time.

The 53rd Annual Mt. Mitchell Crafts Fair, August 7-8, is the oldest and largest crafts fair in the Blue Ridge Mountains. For the past several years, the Southern Tourism Society has selected this event as one of the top twenty to attend in the Southeast.

Burnsvile Town Center
The Burnsville Town Center is a fully equipped facility capable of catering to large events and versatile enough to provide services for small groups. Located in Yancey County, the town of Burnsville has provided its residents and visitors with a community building suitable for events such as concerts, meetings, wedding receptions, family reunions, trade shows, theater, arts and craft demonstrations, workshops and farmer’s market. The Burnsville Town Center is nestled in the center of the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina and acts as a central hub for all local activity. It is the vision of the Burnsville Town Center to strengthen the quality of life for Burnsville’s citizens and visitors through cultural activities and to enhance the local economy in rural Yancey County by using the area’s diverse identity.

Local Farmers Markets and Farms
The Yancey County Farmers’ Market is one of the oldest and largest tailgate markets in western North Carolina. The market has some 30 members and offers an exceptionally wide variety of products. Enjoy pasture raised, hormone free beef, honey, crafts, bedding plants, and much more. In addition, the market offers live music, hot coffee and cold drinks. The market is located behind the Burnsville Town Center off West Boulevard.

 

North Carolina Minerals Museum
Recently renovated, the Museum of North Carolina Minerals introduces the treasures found in the Spruce Pine Mining District through interactive displays on the wide variety of minerals and gems found in the region. Located at milepost 331 on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Gillespie Gap, the Museum provides an introduction to the importance of mining in the region and the mineral and gem wealth found here. Work is continuing on new interactive displays that will take you deep inside a mountain to see how gems and minerals are formed. The Museum also hosts a visitor center for the Mitchell County Chamber of Commerce, where you can pick up information on local businesses, attractions, lodging, food and more. A gift shop featuring souvenirs and books on Western North Carolina is also located in the museum. The Museum is located at Gillespie Gap, an important stop for Revolutionary War fighters on their way to the Battle of Kings Mountain, and each September it hosts an encampment each September of re enactors of the Over the Mountain Men, who distinguished themselves during the Battle of Kings Mountain. The Museum also has information on that famous battle, which many historians mark as the turn of the tide in the Southern Campaign of the Revolutionary War.