Rural Hayesville offers panoramic views and lakeside recreation
Hayesville, North Carolina, is a rural community minutes from Chatuge Lake, a scenic reservoir with peaceful islands and marinas. This community centers around Downtown Hayesville, a bustling town square in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, with breweries and a performing arts theater. Initially, this area was a 1700s Cherokee settlement. Today, Hayesville has a slow-paced lifestyle with lakeside recreation and panoramic views. "We have the most beautiful town square in the mountains between Georgia and North Carolina," says Jim Rich, an area local and executive director at the Clay County Chamber of Commerce. "We have great hiking trails, clean streams and Lake Chatuge. It's just stunning beauty if you love nature and being outdoors."
1950s and newly constructed homes with a view
Houses sit on forested half-acre lots along winding roads and hilly terrain. Many properties have scenic views of the Appalachian Mountains. One of the area’s most popular communities is the RiverWalk subdivision, with tract houses built in the early 2000s. Hayesville features Craftsman, traditional and ranch-style homes built around 1950. Prices range from $100,000 to $700,000. “Some people just come to get away and sit on their porch, while others are active downtown,” Srabian says. “It’s a little pricier but less crowded and more laidback.”
Boating, fishing and exploring the islands at Chatuge Lake
About 3 miles southeast, Chatuge Lake is a reservoir with islands, coves and scenic hiking trails on the Georgia border. It features 132 miles of shoreline and is a popular place for Hayesville residents to take out a fishing boat. Residents can join the Mountain Harbour Golf Club, which has a private swimming pool, fitness center and an 18-hole golf course designed by William Byrd. The Jackrabbit Mountain Trail is a 15-mile trail system for mountain biking. The Chatuge Dam Trail has views of the lake and the mountains along a paved path. "Lake Chatuge is just gorgeous. You drive across the bridge with the mountains, and it's amazing," says Donna Srabian, an area local and real estate agent at RE/MAX Town & Country. "We're lake people. It's like the Super Bowl of fishing. People are really into hiking, too. That's all they do."
Old-fashioned downtown with breweries and restaurants
Hayesville has an old-fashioned downtown with brick boutiques and plazas. While its inventory is limited, it is known locally for having some of the area’s most popular restaurants and brewpubs. Nocturnal Brewing serves pizza and craft beer in a lodge-style atmosphere with natural wood décor. The Copper Door serves creole-inspired steak and seafood dishes in an upscale seating area for tablecloth dining. Residents can pick up groceries at Ingles Market or Dollar General, about a mile south on U.S. Highway 64.
Live entertainment, local culture and the John C. Campbell Folk School
Established in the 1980s, the Peacock Performing Arts Center is a community theater with about 250 seats hosting concerts, musicals and plays. Cherokee Homestead Exhibit is an educational mock settlement with replicas of Cherokee structures and a 2-mile informational trail. There are also seasonal events like Festival on the Square in Downtown Hayesville, which features local artists and food tents in July. There are also events at the John C. Campbell Folk School, a reputable trade education center with 6,000 annual students in neighboring Brasstown. “People come from all over the world to take quilting, glass blowing and blacksmithing,” Srabian says.
Central campus for Clay County Schools
Hayesville Primary School serves kindergarten through second-grade students and does not have an available Niche score. Hayesville Elementary School earns a B grade from Niche and has an after-school program to support working parents. Hayesville Middle School has a B-plus and a Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) focus, which fosters a positive environment. Hayesville High School receives a B-minus and has dual enrollment courses through Tri-County Community College. All schools are within walking distance of each other on School Drive.
County vans and a day trip to cities like Asheville and Chattanooga
Clay County Transportation (CCT) provides paid service to nearby towns. U.S. Highway 64 is the area's primary expressway, reaching nearby towns and cities. Atlanta is roughly 130 miles south. Chattanooga is about 105 miles west on U.S. Route 64, while Asheville is around 100 miles east. Residents can reach Asheville Regional Airport or Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport for flights to other domestic destinations.
