Mars Hill is a scenic college town north of Asheville
Shaped by a private Christian university of the same name, Mars Hill blends the energy of a college town with the scenery of a mountain retreat. The Madison County community sits about 20 miles north of Asheville, the largest city in Western North Carolina. “Years ago, Mars Hill was a sleepy little town north of Asheville,” says Steven Owens, a former resident of Mars Hill and a Realtor with Keller Williams Biltmore Village. “The past 15 years or so, as the market in Asheville heated up, people were looking for more affordable places to live, and Mars Hill started to fit that bill.” The median price for a single-family home in Mars Hill is around $450,000, which is about $100,000 less than Asheville’s median. “It’s a way to get out of the hustle and bustle of Asheville, but only be about 25 minutes away,” Owens says. Founded in 1856, Mars Hill University has been the town’s main draw, providing education, employment and a thriving arts and entertainment scene.
From cozy cottages and farmhouses to luxury resort properties
Mars Hill offers a variety of single-family homes. Bungalows, cottages and ranch-style houses line the curving two-lane roads branching out from Mars Hill University. The nearby countryside features Greek and Colonial Revivals, farmhouses and custom-built homes perched on hills for optimal scenery. “Anywhere there are mountains and views, there’s an opportunity to build,” Owens says. Log cabins sprinkle the mountainous landscape north of town, and the luxury properties surrounding Hatley Point Mountain Resort and Wolf Laurel Country Club are popular with second-home buyers. Most homes typically cost between $290,000 and $730,000. However, properties on multiple acres and especially large resort homes can range from $790,000 to more than $1 million. Potential buyers should note that hurricanes, landslides and riverine flooding are realities of life in Western North Carolina.
Madison County Public Schools offers dual enrollment and student clubs
Madison County Public Schools earns a B-plus overall rating from Niche. The district has around 2,200 students across six schools and three early childhood education centers. Mars Hill Elementary receives a B-plus, and Madison Middle earns an A-minus. Madison High gets a B-minus and offers a handful of student clubs, including SkillsUSA, which supports students interested in skilled trades. Students looking to pursue a college degree can apply to the A-minus Madison Early College High, which partners with Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College to offer dual enrollment courses.
College students and residents mix in downtown Mars Hill
Blending into the Mars Hill University campus, downtown Mars Hill buzzes with activity during the school year and quiets down when most students leave for the summer. “There’s a bunch of shops downtown that cater to the college community,” Owens says. “It has that Mayberry, old-fashioned downtown vibe.” Historic red brick storefronts are home to restaurants such as Stackhouse American Eatery & Pub, which is known for its burgers and brisket sandwiches, and The Original Papa Nick’s Italian Restaurant, which is a favorite for pizza and pasta. Camden’s Coffee House offers a cozy library-like atmosphere for studying with a latte in hand.
Downtown Mars Hill also hosts seasonal events, including a Halloween trunk-or-treat at the end of October and a Christmas Parade in early December. The Mars Hill Farmers and Artisans Market fills College Street every Saturday morning from April through October.
Ingles Markets is the grocery chain in town. National retailers are about 10 miles away in Weaverville. Mars Hill Medical Center offers primary and preventive care. The full-service Mission Hospital is about 20 miles away in Asheville.
A creative scene anchored by community and Mars Hill University
Mars Hill may be a small town, but it has a big heart for the arts. For 50 years, the Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre has entertained audiences at the historic Owen Theatre with plays, musicals and concerts. The Weizenblatt Art Gallery has highlighted local and nationally known artists since the 1990s, while the artist collective Modern Local ARTSOUP offers workshops in a variety of mediums, including pottery, poetry and painting. Mars Theatre Brewing Co., a brewery and pub in a former 1940s movie theatre, is the Friday and Saturday night spot for live music.
Year-round recreation includes hiking, rafting and skiing
Mars Hill is a town of trees and green space. University students and faculty rest between classes on the Lunsford Commons. Nearby, an 18-hole disc golf course dots the lawn between student apartments. Walking is a popular activity, whether on the Dr. W. Otis Duck Memorial Greenway or the half-mile hiking trail that loops around the university’s practice fields. Mars Hill Recreation Park draws families for its playground, outdoor pool and lighted tennis courts. Away from the town proper, Baily Mountain Preserve offers hiking trails that lead to a summit with scenic views, and the Appalachian National Scenic Trail passes through Pisgah National Forest along the Tennessee border. The French Broad River is a destination in the warmer months for rafting, fishing and tubing. In the winter, Hatley Pointe Mountain Resort offers skiing and snowboarding, while snow tubing is the main pastime at Zip N Slip Snow Tubing Park. “If the outdoors appeals to you, it’s a great place to be,” Owens says.
Commuters have access to Interstate 26
Most people drive to get around Mars Hill. A network of winding mountain roads leads to Interstate 26, a major highway for commutes to Asheville. Asheville Regional Airport is a little over 30 miles away. Madison County Transportation Authority provides point-to-point rides around the county for those who are eligible.
