Housing

....Avery County has a rich history of diverse living environments and community identity. In the past year 2005, Avery County experienced over $67,000,000 in new residential building permits...
(Compared to South Carolina's #1 growing county, "Greeneville County" had $128,000,000 over the last DECADE from 1993-2003)

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

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Local colleges and universities:

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

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Climate

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

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Entertainment & Culture

....It is quite a culture that has more than half its residents leaving their home with an unlocked door. Most are left opened in case "the neighbor needs something in an emergency." Avery County is a relaxed community of people.

....The public is invited to enjoy the golf courses at Beech Mountain Golf Club, Mountain Glen Golf Club and Sugar Mountain Golf Club. Private clubs include Elk River Club, Grandfather Golf and Country Club, Linville Land Harbor, Linville Golf Club, and Linville Ridge Country Club. The best combination of mountain golf courses and ski slopes in the South plus the highest average land elevation in Eastern America plus spectacular panoramic views make Avery the natural real estate choice for retirees or a second home.

....Beech and Sugar Mountain offer the finest skiing for the winter months. Each resort operates many runs catering to the beginner as well as the most advanced and offers a complete skiing experience.

....The annual Whooly Worm Festival brings international attention as well as much as $95,000 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 proclaimed our area as the best area in all of The United States in which to train for the Tour de France .

....The only Orvis approved fly fishing outfitter in North Carolina is in our immediate area.

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

....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 privately-owned nature conservancy in the world thanks to the continuing efforts of the Morton family, with its patriarch Hugh Morton.

....The town of Linville Falls boasts the spectacular presence of Linville Falls itself, but has, in a local restaurant "Louise's Famous Rock Restaurant", a convergence of three counties in their dining room. Quite literally, 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 County 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 very best Christmas Tree every 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 Avery County Fraser Fir Christmas Tree farms that allow "choose & cut" to be included in a vacation itinerary that can be based out of many of our rental vacation homes, condos, and town homes.

....And last but not least, the vast majority of Avery County residents DO NOT OWN AIR CONDITIONERS. While the heat smelts people and their attitudes off the mountain in the entire South, we enjoy chilly nights that many times require jackets. The best part of the story is that in most of the retail establishments in the area, jackets are sold to the public in the month of July.

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