Black Mountain

At the eastern edge of the Swannanoa Valley, the town of Black Mountain welcomes visitors throughout the year who enjoy a tranquil lifestyle surrounded by the beauty of a natural environment. Referred to as “the front porch of Western North Carolina,” Black Mountain has also been called the best small town in Western North Carolina.

The Cherokee and Catawba tribes called it Grey Eagle. Throughout the 19th century, Scotch and Irish settlers were drawn in by the views of the picturesque mountain landscape. Named after the Black Mountain Range to the north, the town was founded in 1893. Typical of other towns in the area, Black Mountain experienced increased growth as a result of the railroad. Like those who first settled the area, visitors who appreciated the gorgeous scenery often relocated here.

In the easternmost part of Buncombe County, Black Mountain continues to attract outdoor enthusiasts and nature types. With about 7,700 residents, the town manages to blend its tourism base with its citizens whose families have been here for generations. Real estate in Black Mountain is surprisingly affordable, with a median house value of $164,000.

The town prides itself on its sense of community and friendly atmosphere. It is a center for summer camps and religious conference centers including Ridgecrest, Blue Ridge Assembly, The Cove and Christmount. Also, Black Mountain’s historic downtown offers diverse shopping opportunities with regional art and craft galleries, art studios, antiques, bookstores and furniture stores.

Open since 2000, the Black Mountain Center for the Arts displays rotating exhibits of art including clay, fiber, paper, wood and mixed-media. The gallery particularly features one-of-a-kind crafts.

Lake Tomahawk, a 10-acre lake on the north side of town, is a recreational area that includes tennis courts, a playground, picnic areas, a community garden, a gazebo and an outdoor performance stage. Fishing piers are located on the lake, and boating is allowed without a motor. Ducks that inhabit the area often appear on a well-lighted path along the lake.

Northwest of town is Black Mountain Golf Course, an 18-hole course spread over wooded hills that includes a small creek. The course is home to the 747-yard, par-6 17th hole, which once was the longest in the world.

Surrounded by hiking and biking trails in nearby Pisgah National Forest, Black Mountain is close to Mount Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi. Craggy Gardens, north of Black Mountain via the Blue Ridge Parkway, is in full bloom in June when the mountainside is covered with Catawba rhododendron, azaleas and mountain laurel. The recreation area offers a visitors center, picnic area and trails to an overlook.

Each February, the Black Mountain Marathon and Mount Mitchell Challenge brings in athletes looking for the ultimate race. The 40-mile Mount Mitchell Challenge begins at dawn in Black Mountain where runners ascend 4,324 feet in the first 20 miles to 6,684-foot Mount Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Rocky Mountains, then return to the starting point. Black Mountain Marathon runners follow the same path up to Black Mountain Gap at 5,340 feet and return. The race is a favorite among mountain trail runners.

Another popular event in Black Mountain is the Lake Eden Arts Festival, which is spread out over 600 acres along the shores of Lake Eden. The festival is held for a weekend in May and October and features music, art, water recreation, kids’ activities and camping. In order to keep the festival intimate, organizers limit daily attendance to 5,000. 2005 marks the 10th anniversary of the festival.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BLACK MOUNTAIN-SWANNANOA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE