Housing

Avery County has a rich history of diverse living environments and community identity.

Schools

Avery County is served by the Avery County School District. Our schools offer unique educational opportunities at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, with distinct programs in foreign language, communication arts, pre-engineering and health professions, international studies, and science and technology.

Banner Elk has been the site of the Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities, the state’s premier school for artistically talented students.

Local Colleges and Universities

Lees-McRae College, Banner Elk, NC
Appalachian State University, Boone, NC
Mayland Community College, Newland, NC
East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN

Medical Facilities

Cannon Memorial Hospital in Linville, NC has recently joined the Appalachian Regional Health Care System in cooperation with Watauga Regional Medical Center in Boone.

Climate

Avery County's moderate climate offers a full range of seasons. Our average annual temperature is 54 degrees F with an average rainfall of 57 inches and an average snowfall of 58 inches per year.

Average January minimum.......22F
Average July maximum..............78F
Days with maximum of 80 F or above..............36.2
Days with minimum of 32 F or below...............85.7

Entertainment & Culture

The public is invited to enjoy the golf courses at Beech Mountain Golf Club, Mountain Glen Golf Club and Sugar Mountain Golf Club.

Beech and Sugar Mountain offer the finest skiing in the South for the winter months. Each Resort operates many slopes catering to the beginner as well as the most advanced skier.

The annual Woolly Worm Festival brings international attention as well as much as $65,000 to the children of Avery County via The Kiwanis Club of Banner Elk and The Avery County Chamber of Commerce.

There are numerous biking and mountain biking courses and races throughout Avery County. Lance Armstrong has proclaimed our area as the best area in all of The United States in which to train for the Tour de France.  The cycling team at Lees-McRae College are champions on the Division I level.

The Lees McRae Summer Theatre brings a delightful mix of local talent with nationally acclaimed artisans on one stage.

A one-of-a-kind summer musical innovation is found at Jim & Jenny's Music Barn in Crossnore where one can still find an ole-timey mountain round-up on Saturday nights along with local treats as "ramps, taters & maters".

Grandfather Mountain looms over Avery County much like a trusted ancestor would. Grandfather Mountain is the largest nature conservancy in the world thanks to the continuing efforts of the Morton family.

The Linville Falls community is home to the spectacular Linville Falls and Linville Gorge Wilderness area. "Louise's Famous Rock House Restaurant," is a landmark in the small community. Interestingly, a convergence of three counties occurs in their dining room. A family member can enjoy a relaxing mountain meal in Avery County, with a brother seated at the same meal in Burke County, with yet another family member seated in McDowell County. Three cheers to three counties!

Avery County has a multitude of Country Inns & Bed & Breakfasts to capture your attention and to guide you towards local events and attractions. The Fraser Fir tree has been selected as the nation's best Christmas Tree four years out of five for the past twenty-five years. It is known as "The Cadillac of Christmas Trees" and is found naturally in Avery County. There are countless Fraser Fir Christmas tree farms that allow "choose & cut" to be included in a vacation itinerary.