Elk Park offers a quiet, small-town mountain lifestyle
Named for the number of elk available to hunt in the nineteenth century, Elk Park is a small North Carolina mountain town just a mile from the Tennessee border with an elevation of 3,166 feet. Outside of summer visitors to the Elk River Waterfall, this quaint community of just 500 residents can be seen as a pass-through town. The area was established in 1885 as a stop along the now decommissioned East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad, better known as the Tweetsie Railroad. “Elk Park is a little outside of the normal circle of High Country communities up here,” says Jonathan Lehman, a local broker with Keller Williams. “It doesn’t get the tourist crowd, and it’s certainly a safe place to live. It’s more of a working-class community than anything else.” In addition to its secluded atmosphere with scenic mountain views, Elk Park’s cost of living is lower than the national average, making it attractive to first time buyers, retirees or anyone seeking a slower-paced life away from the city.
A mountainous landscape offers waterfalls, farms and orchards
Elk Park’s quiet atmosphere attracts outdoor enthusiasts looking for a new nature escape. Elk River Falls is a 50-foot waterfall that tends to get crowded in the summer, as out-of-towners come to dip their toes in the pool of water at the base of the falls and picnic on the flat rocks. “It’s a very accessible waterfall, and the walk to it is not bad at all,” Lehman says. “People of all abilities should be able to get to it.” Elk River Evergreens is a family-owned and operated Christmas tree farm that opens in November, and Hump Mountain Apple House is a seasonal market with apple orchards, jellies and jams. About 3 miles from town, Mountain Glen Golf Club has a public 18-hole course.
Old and new cabins hide along winding backroads
In addition to its small population, Elk Park has a low housing inventory. When available, buyers can find wooded ranch-style homes with modern renovations and Mountain-themed cabins with wrap-around porches or second-floor balconies. Most properties are between 1,500 and 3,000 square feet, and their price tags typically range from $155,000 to $795,000. There is a selection of contemporary three-story cabins that can reach 5,000 square feet in size, offering unobstructed mountain views. These larger properties generally run from $1 million to $2.25 million. Built between 2000 and 2010, homes in Elk Park usually sit on a half-acre to multiple acres. Properties located near Elk River and Elk Creek have a high flood risk.
Well-rated Avery County Schools serve students in Elk Park
Students living in Elk Park are part of Avery County Schools, which receives a B rating from Niche. Young learners can begin at Freedom Trail Elementary School before advancing to Cranberry Middle School, both of which receive a B-plus rating. The middle school campus hosts the majority of the community’s family friendly events. Avery High School, which holds a B-minus, has championship-winning men’s wrestling and girl’s golf teams.
The Historic Elk Park School, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005, was built in 1935 to serve the kindergarten through twelfth-grade students living in town. The one-story Rustic Revival school building was used in the movie Where the Lilies Bloom, and actual students were featured as extras. Today, the building has been renovated into an apartment building.
The town hosts family-friendly holiday events year-round
The small town of Elk Park works hard to organize and facilitate community events all year, many held at the local Cranberry Middle School. The Easter Eggstravaganza features musical acts and an egg hunt, and the Trick-or-Treat event celebrates Halloween with a costume contest and an outdoor movie. In the winter, the town throws a holiday decorating contest, complete with visits from Santa and a Christmas Parade. There are also frequent community clean-up days at various locations throughout the year.
Boutiques, farm markets and local diners line the highway
Residents can aim for U.S. Route 19E for their errands, where local stores and restaurants dot the highway. The small downtown strip of Main Street features The Eclectic Nest & Closet, a boutique clothing store, and Hidden Treasures, where shoppers can find antiques and vintage items. East of this shopping section, Elk River Depot Family Restaurant serves American fare like chicken pot pie and meatloaf. West of Main Street, Starving Squirrel is a popular window-serve eatery with breakfast sandwiches, tater tots and ice cream. Next door, The Liar’s Table is a trendy market with locally made produce and farm-to-table supper events. Less than a mile west of there, just across the Tennessee border, The Appalachian Station at 19E is a music hall with craft beer and pub food.
Highway 19E is the main artery through Elk Park
Commuters can use U.S. Route 19E, or Highway 19E, which runs through the center of town. The highway connects residents to Bristol, located 45 miles north, and to Asheville, located 75 miles south. Elk Park is car-dependent, as no public train or bus services the area, and the nearest airport is Tri-Cities Airport about 45 miles away. “Charlotte Douglas International Airport is the big hub around here, but it’s about two hours away,” Lehman says.
Amy has been in the High Country since 1995 where she studied at Appalachian State University. She was previously the owner and operator of a landscaping business called Butterfly Gardens since 1999. Amy and her husband, Sean, also own a bike shop in Banner Elk called Headquarters Bike and Outdoor.
She and her husband have two boys that keep them very active. Their family enjoys mountain biking, snowboarding and rock climbing. Specializing in assisting buyers and sellers as well as consulting, Amy is passionate about her work and feels that it is important to listen to the needs of her clients. She has developed a loyal group of buyers and sellers through the years. Amy serves Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, Linville, and the surrounding areas. She loves working full-time in real estate and will work diligently to help with your real estate needs while having fun along the way.
Amy and her husband Sean can share their knowledge as he is a contractor and has an extensive background with the building and remodeling of homes. She is a member of both the National Association of REALTORS® and the High Country Association of REALTORS®, along with the local High Country MLS.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
