Country living with views in Mountain City, Tennessee
Mountain City has an easygoing atmosphere and a small downtown surrounded by beautiful views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. With swaths of farmland and open space, this area attracts homesteaders, farmers, retirees and vacationers staking a claim in the Appalachians, and many residents trace their roots back for generations. "It's very much still small-town USA, where everybody knows everybody. When you hear people talk about Southern hospitality, that's Mountain City, Tennessee," Joel Farthing, Broker at Boone Real Estate. "Most of the people there are multigenerational, but you could be around for six months and feel like you know everybody."
Sweeping views at Watauga Lake, nearby trails and town parks
Nearby Watauga Lake covers over 10 square miles and is popular for boating, fishing and camping in the surrounding Cherokee National Forest. This serene, deep blue lake is surrounded by rolling green mountains. "It's so remote. It's almost like a hidden gem in the area, but it's such a beautiful lake," says Jessica Harkness, native of Mountain City and Affiliate Broker at Foundation Realty Group. "It's one of the cleanest lakes in the country." Mountain City residents are also close to major trails, like the nearly 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail and the 34-mile Virginia Creeper Trail, a gently sloping biking and hiking trail in a former railway. "There are the cogs of connecting the VA Creeper Trail into Mountain City, which would be a game-changer," Farthing says.
Mountain City also has two parks within its town limits. Ralph Stout Park has a fishing pond, a skateboard park and athletic fields. On Saturday mornings, the park hosts the Johnson County Farmers Market. John Cunningham Park has a swimming pool, pickleball courts and baseball fields.
Log cabins in the woods and land with custom builds
Cottages and ranch-style homes, some near the downtown area on residential streets, typically range from $100,000 to $330,000. Log cabins and custom builds in the woods or along winding mountain roads usually range from $360,000 to $730,000. Many buyers like to purchase land and build their own homes in this area. "There's still opportunity to find usable farmland in Johnson County if your idea is to have that mini-farm or self-sustaining lifestyle," Farthing says. Johnson County also does not require building permits, only septic and electrical permits, which can expedite the homebuilding process. Mountain City's Cap Index crime score is a 3, slightly lower than the national average of 4.
Low-lying areas experienced flooding during Hurricane Helene
Many properties in Mountain City are in a valley, which can be vulnerable to floods. In 2024, Hurricane Helene impacted this area and much of Western North Carolina. Mountain City was affected by flooding that destroyed some roads and buildings and caused widespread water and power outages.
Small town dining in downtown Mountain City
Downtown, locals start their day with an espresso or latte from Know Better Coffee, enjoy lunch with friends at Local's Deli, or order takeout from Teammates Pizza. Farthing notes that there are several popular restaurants and storefronts downtown, but this small town takes a slow, laid-back pace. "If you pull onto Main Street at 5:30 PM, it's a ghost town, but at noon, it's hard to find a parking spot," he says. "Half the restaurants are closed on Wednesday evenings and Sundays because it's church day." Downtown is also home to the Johnson County Public Library, the Mountain City Fire Department and institutions like First Christian Church. Food Country USA has groceries, and Food Lion is just down the road.
Family-friendly fun at the Mountain City Sunflower Festival
Each July, Mountain City hosts its Sunflower Festival, which has happened annually since 2004. With the mountains as the backdrop, the community celebrates the summer flower with a themed Miss Sunflower Pageant, bouncy houses and face painting for the kids, costumed performers and more.
Johnson County Schools in Mountain City
Area students may begin at Mountain City Elementary School, which has a B rating from Niche, and progress to B-minus-rated Johnson County Middle School and C-plus-rated Johnson County High School. In addition to the standard curriculum, the high school offers career and technical education courses such as business and technology, construction, agriculture and health science.
Local employers and getting to larger mountain towns
Boone, North Carolina, a larger mountain town that's home to Appalachian State University and Watauga Medical Center, is about 25 miles south via U.S. Route 421. Other towns, such as Johnson City and Bristol, are about an hour's drive away. Harkness notes that many full-time residents also work in the school system or the Northeast Correctional Complex, a prison just outside the boundaries of Mountain City. Mountain City is also home to the Johnson County Community Hospital, a small facility with an emergency room.
Written By
Faith Wakefield
