Rural living at the foot of Holston Mountain in Hunter
Hunter sits at the foot of Holston Mountain, combining a rural residential landscape with the outdoor recreation available in its natural surroundings. Swimming holes, paddling on the Watauga River and other activities are nearby. While U.S. Route 91 connects residents to Elizabethton and the neighboring tri-cities for work and shopping, many choose Hunter and stay there because it is a little farther out. “It’s very rural, and you’re going to get some good mountain views,” says Katy Bennett, a Realtor with Hurd Realty. “There’s a lot of people that have been there for a long time. That’s where the family is, so that’s where people want to be.”
Exploring Blue Hole Falls
Nearby recreation is limited mostly to outdoor activities due to Hunter's location. Hunter Elementary School has multiple playgrounds, swing sets and a covered pavilion. Star Fitness, located just outside the neighborhood, is an athletic facility with a gym, fitness classes and other amenities. Wahoo’s Adventure Watauga River Outpost sits within the neighborhood, off John Sheffield Private Drive. Alongside booking a campsite for the weekend, visitors can sign up for guided kayak and rafting tours on the water. Blue Hole Falls, 8 miles northeast, offers another way to enjoy the outdoors. Its half-mile trail loop leads to three separate waterfalls, which are fed by Mill Creek and drop into natural swimming pools. The falls sit along Panhandle Road, which leads up Holston Mountain to panoramic views at Holston High Point and the RF-4C Jet Crash Memorial Site.
Hunter's ranch-style homes
U.S. Route 91 runs diagonally through the community past Elizabethton Municipal Airport to the west and beyond the white spire of Stoney Creek Baptist Church marking the community’s eastern edge. Residential areas branch off the thoroughfare and are just wide enough for cars to slowly pass one another. Ranch-style homes built from the early 1900s onward comprise much of the community, but there is a pocket of New Traditional styles in the Hunter Ridge subdivision. With a CAP Index crime score of 1, compared to the national average of 4, Hunter offers quiet, half-acre lots accommodating above-ground pools, chicken coops and sheds. “It’s nice because of the mountains, but the elevation is not high enough to where it’s too steep to garden,” Bennett says. Prices typically range from $125,000 to $570,000 for a larger, more recently built home. Condos are also available closer to the main road and range in price from $150,000 to $200,000.
Shopping and dining along State Route 91
Dollar General and Redi Mart are along State Route 91, but residents must make the 3-mile trip to Food City in Downtown Elizabethton for a larger selection of groceries. Walmart Supercenter and Lowe’s Home Improvement are 2 miles farther away. Closer to home, Kimbo’s serves breakfast in its cow-themed interior, while the family owned Burger Hut is proudly open seven days a week. Downtown Elizabethton’s East Elk Avenue has more options for shopping and dining.
Unaka High School's extracurriculars
Prekindergarten through eighth-grade students enroll at Hunter Elementary School, which feeds into Unaka High School. Both receive a C-plus rating on Niche. Unaka High School's students can join Future Farmers of America, Future Business Leaders of America and several other extracurriculars.
Commuting to the Tri-Cities
State Route 91 runs through the southern portion of the community, connecting residents to Downtown Elizabethton 4 miles southwest. “People that live in Elizabethton commute out of the area for work,” says Dale Williams, owner of Rainbow Realty and Elizabethton resident. Commuters can reach Bristol, 25 miles north, via U.S. Route 19 and Kingsport, 35 miles northwest, via Interstate 26. Meanwhile, Johnson City sits 14 miles southwest, along U.S. Route 321. The route also leads to Johnson City Medical Center and James H. Quillen VA Medical Center, which provides care for veterans, both a mile farther in the same direction. Elizabethton Municipal Airport sits directly southwest of the community and can account for occasional overhead noise from small private planes and piloting lessons. Tri-Cities Airport, 30 miles northwest, connects travelers to five major international airports.
Carter County Club Cruise-ins support local charities
Classic cars fill Downtown Elizabethton for Carter County Car Club Cruise-ins every Saturday from May through October. The event draws people from around the region to East Elk Avenue to display their vehicles and spark conversations with fellow enthusiasts. The cruise-ins also fundraise to support local children's charities.
