Beech Mountain is skiing, Blue Ridge Mountain views and resilience
Beech Mountain is one of the High Country’s more popular mountain towns. The area sees vacationers who stay a while to ski, hike or simply relax in the Blue Ridge Mountains, but some people make Beech Mountain their permanent home. “A lot of folks come on vacation and like it so much they plan to retire there or have a second home and transition to living there full-time,” says Jessica Auten, a global real estate advisor with Sotheby’s International Realty. “They buy a vacation home with the goal to be full-time residents in about 10 years. Beech Mountain is great for short-term rentals because the ski resort is there.”
The area has so much to do that tourism is a big part of the economy. When Hurricane Helene damaged roadways in 2024, businesses suffered. The High Country is still recovering, but areas like Beech Mountain are ready for visitors. “We’re still in recovery, but we need people to come now,” Auten says. “People think it’s still a disaster area, but that’s not the case. Businesses have been devastated by the loss of revenue. October is the busiest time of year, and some businesses make their yearly goals in the fall alone. It’s just as beautiful now as it was, and a lot of the roads have been improved with better drainage.”
Cabins, chalets and lodges tucked in the mountainside
Homes often have stick architecture styles with A-frame roofs, though there are some homes built in the last 10 years with New Traditional designs, including slanted, asymmetrical roofs. “Some people buy a second home with the long-term goal of moving permanently,” Auten says. “Beech Mountain is multigenerational. Grandparents buy a place where their grandkids can play.” Luxury lodges with wide mountain views and floor-to-ceiling windows have sold for $1 million to about $3.7 million. Smaller chalets closer to the ski slopes and golf course range from $650,000 to $995,000, while the least expensive cabins sell for $270,000 to $650,000. Due to the mountain terrain, moderate yards and long driveways can slope toward sidewalk-free streets, and tall trees stand between the homes and streets.
Attending Watuaga or Avery County public schools
Beech Mountain falls in the Watauga and Avery counties. Most students are zoned for the A-rated Watauga County Schools district. Valle Crucis Elementary School serves prekindergarten through eighth grade, and students move on to Watauga High School. Both schools earn A-minus ratings from Niche. Kids in the B-rated Avery County Schools district attend Banner Elk Elementary School, which receives an A-minus and is ranked as the best public elementary school in the county by Niche. Avery Middle School and Avery County High School get B-minus ratings.
Busy Beech Mountain Ski Resort, serene Buckeye Lake
Beech Mountain has ski slopes, hiking and biking trails and the private Beech Mountain Club golf course. The Beech Mountain Sledding Hill is just what it sounds like, a destination for kids who want to slide down a snow-covered hill. The town uses snow machines to make sure there’s fresh snow for everyone. Residents can buy seasonal passes or daily tickets to access the Beech Mountain Ski Resort, and Buckeye Recreation Center members can use the gym or outdoor tennis courts. The nearby Buckeye Lake is open for fishing and hiking the surrounding trail, but swimming and kayaking are prohibited.
Fred's General Mercantile is a go-to with more stores nearby
People may assume resources are limited when living in the mountains, but Beech Mountain residents are close to grocery stores, restaurants and shops. Fred's General Mercantile is a local staple. It has a deli counter and shelves of fresh produce and groceries. While Fred’s serves breakfast and lunch items, the family-owned Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria down the road is more popular around dinner. The restaurant also hosts live music weekly during the summer, and guests can see what games are available in the on-site arcade. Residents who need a wider grocery selection can drive 10 miles to Food Lion or Lowes Foods in Banner Elk. Stores in Beech Mountain are usually gift shops that open for the busy seasons, but Banner Elk has small businesses like Country Bumpkin Candle Company and Mountaineer Garden Center Florist & Greenhouses.
Woolly worms wiggle to victory in nearby Banner Elk
Beech Mountain has events throughout the year, though there are some annual events that residents look forward to every year. “They do a summer concert series, and then in the fall, there are festivals in Banner Elk,” Auten says. “The Woolly Worm Festival is one of those that’s been going on forever, and the Valley Country Fair." The Woolly Worm Festival celebrates woolly worm caterpillars that later turn into tiger moths. Over 20,000 people join the festival to see who wins the Woolly Worm Races, which includes gently placing caterpillars on strings to see which crawls across the finish line first.
Traffic increases in Beech Mountain vacation season
Driving around the mountain usually isn’t a hassle, but traffic does pick up in peak vacation season. “For the most part, it’s pretty busy from Memorial Day weekend through October,” Auten says. “Thanksgiving is when ski resorts usually open, so it’s busy on weekends from Thanksgiving until the end of March.” Banner Elk is around 6 miles from Beech Mountain, a drive that takes less than 20 minutes. Anyone who wants to catch an Appalachian State football game in Boone, 24 miles away, has almost an hour-long drive using U.S. Route 321. The nearest medical center is in Banner Elk, and the nearest hospital is Charles A. Cannon, Jr. Memorial Hospital in Linville, about 35 minutes away by car.
Fewer hurricane concerns and more snow preparations
Hurricane Helene caused a once-in-a-1,000-year flood. The area has seen flooding from hurricanes before 2024, but Helene was unique. Residents usually need to be prepared for snow, such as owning snow tires and possibly a generator if the power goes out. The area has an annual snowfall of 11 inches.
