Banner Elk, NC

Nestled in a valley between two ski resorts: Sugar Mountain Resort to the south, and Beech Mountain Resort to the north, Banner Elk is home to those who love the great outdoors and southern culture. With year-round activities throughout the high country, world-class restaurants and unique shops found in town, Banner Elk has just as much to offer the seasonal vacationers as they do their temporary and permanent residents.

Real estate in the High Country includes a vibrant mix of large mountain homes, single-story log cabins, farmhouses on large plots of land, and many condos. Banner Elk has a large number of second homes due to the area’s seasonal attractions, with many ASU alumni returning to purchase vacation homes in the mountains.

Many gated communities can be found along Banner Elk’s countryside as well as a number of properties tucked away on their own acreages, down many backroads, on mountaintops, or in small community subdivisions. Because of this, it is important to hire a Realtor that knows the area and can point you in the right direction.

Banner Elk, NC Real Estate Market

219

Properties for sale right now

$921,674

Median sale price

Median sale price

Lifestyle and Attractions

Banner Elk is geographically positioned to where visitors and residents can experience an array of outdoor adventures, superb dining, theater and the arts, family attractions, and the South’s two largest ski resorts: Sugar Mountain and Beech Mountain all within 15 minutes of the town’s only stoplight. Both resorts offer ice skating and snow-tubing. Sugar Mountain has North Carolina’s only double black diamond slope while Beech Mountain has North Carolina’s only mountaintop skybar.

Banner Elk is home to the annual Woolly Worm Festival. Always the third weekend in October, this event includes about 175 craft vendors, food, live entertainment, and rides. Drawing more than 20,000 attendees each year, the festival takes place during the traditional peak weekend for autumn leaf viewing in Banner Elk and the Blue Ridge Mountains.

This cozy mountain village is also known as a “culinary hotspot of the NC High Country”. A thriving food scene offers everything from five-star upscale dining to laid-back, down-home cooking to tasty delis and diners.

Nearby Schools and Higher Education

Avery County School System is made up of nine different elementary, middle, and high schools. Their mission is to prepare students for success by providing the best education possible through supportive relationships with students, parents, and community.

Lees-McRae is a private four-year college affiliated with the Presbyterian church and is located in the downtown area of Banner Elk. It has the highest elevation of any campus east of the Rockies and offers a variety of educational tracks and opportunities.

History

Banner Elk was established in the 1840's when Avery County was still a part of its neighboring counties. The town got its name from the phrase "Banner's Elk," in reference to it being the location where the last elk in the region gave its life to the dining table and its hide to a worthy cause. A life size statue of a stately elk is located in the heart of the town commemorating this moment in history.

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