Mitchell County History

Mitchell County was formed in 1861 from parts of Burke County, Caldwell County, McDowell County, Watauga County and Yancey County. It was named in honor of Elisha Mitchell, professor of mathematics, chemistry, geology and mineralogy at the University of North Carolina from 1818 until his death in 1857.

The creation of Mitchell County was brought about by the question of secession during the build up to the Civil War. The Northern half of the region strongly supported the Union and wanted to part company with the Southern half, which favored secession. The opportunity that enabled this split came about when Jacob W. Bowman, a rising young politician from what is now Bakersville, was elected to represent Yancey County in the N.C. legislature. Eager to serve his constituents living north of Toe River, young Bowman was instrumental in the passage of an act that created the new county.

Area Facts, Towns, etc.

Mitchell County is located in western North Carolina, approximately 50 miles northeast of Asheville, NC and 25 miles southeast of Johnson City, TN. It is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The county's total land area is 220 square miles. Bakersville is the county seat, with a population of approximately 400. The county's largest town, Spruce Pine, is located in the southern part of the county and has a population of approximately 2,000.

The county's average year-round temperature is 52 degrees and it receives an average of 46.7 inches of rain annually. Elevation ranges from 1,700 to 6,313 feet above sea level with an average elevation of 3,000 feet.

The mountain climate is particularly appropriate for any number of popular outdoor activities such as whitewater rafting, hiking, backpacking, camping, fishing, horseback riding, canoeing, kayaking, mountain biking, picnicking, skiing and much more.

Bakersville

The first settler on the site of what is now Bakersville was David Baker, who acquired a state’s grant for 100 acres of land in 1797. David Baker entertained many travelers in the early 1800's, including the noted French botanist, Francois Andre Michaux. Michaux visited Baker’s farm on his return from an expedition into Tennessee, Kentucky and Illinois. The movement for the establishment of a new mountain county in 1861 originated in Bakersville, as did the movement to establish the town as the county seat. In 1868 Bakersville was made the seat of government for Mitchell County. Important from the early 1800’s through the civil war as a trading center and village, Bakersville became the center of politics in Mitchell County and remains so to this day.

Today, Bakersville’s quaint downtown is home to galleries and working artists’ studios. Each September the town hosts the Bakersville Creek Walk Arts Festival along the banks of meandering Cane Creek, which runs through the center of town. The North Carolina Rhododendron Festival takes place each June and draws visitors from all over the country to witness the spectacular beauty of the world’s largest naturally growing rhododendron gardens atop nearby Roan Mountain.

Spruce Pine

Spruce Pine, the largest town in Mitchell County, was founded in 1907 when the Clinchfield Railroad made its way alongside the North Toe River from Erwin, Tennessee. The town was originally centered around a tavern operated by Isaac English, located on an old roadway that ran down to Marion, NC. The town takes its name from a large Carolina hemlock tree that stood near the tavern. The Old English Inn still stands at its original location near the center of town.

The railroad, combined with a rapidly expanding mining industry made Spruce Pine the largest town in the Toe River Valley, as it became the hub of commerce and culture for the area. Spruce Pine was the home of The Feldspar Company and Spruce Pine Mica, and other major mining interests had operations in and around the town.

Tourism has become a major economic force in the region, and the town's proximity to the Blue Ridge Parkway, combined with its location near the edge of the Blue Ridge Escarpment has helped make Spruce Pine a travel destination for many. One of Spruce Pine's most famous natives is children's author Gloria Houston, who was born and raised nearby in the Green Valley community northeast of town. In 2002, Houston gave the town of Spruce Pine the rights to brand the town as the “Home of the Perfect Christmas Tree,” taken from her best-selling book "The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree.

Little Switzerland

Scenic Little Switzerland, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 331, takes its name from early summer residents of the area who thought the scenery resembled that of the Jura Mountains of Switzerland.

WHAT TO DO


Arts

You'll find treasures in more places than just the ground in Mitchell County. Take home a one-of-a-kind treasure from one of our artisans when you visit. We're home to the world-renowned Penland School of Crafts. Founded by Lucy Morgan in 1923, Penland has grown to encompass 400 acres and 40 structures. Penland School has an annual hands-on open house where you can make your own handmade treasure to take home. The Bakersville and Penland areas are home to almost 100 professional craft artists' studios and galleries representing glass, pottery, metal, weavings and jewelry. And don't miss the annual Toe River Arts Council studio tours for the opportunity to visit artists in their working studio environments.

Mitchell County is home to more North Carolina Living Treasures than any other county in the state, as well as several Folk Heritage Award recipients. We're proud to call these folks neighbors and they are proud to share with you the treasures their special talents create.

Attractions

Thousands of visitors each year enjoy the natural attractions of Mitchell County and surrounding area. The Appalachian Trail, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Roan Mountain, the Toe River, the Nolichucky River, dozens of hiking and walking trails, creeks full of native trout and breathtaking waterfalls will delight you. The largest natural rhododendron garden in the world also finds its home here.

If the wild outdoors isn't your thing, you'll find lots of other activities to keep you entertained. Spend an afternoon with the family at a Christmas tree farm. Try a round of golf in a beautiful mountain setting. Or take in a play at the Parkway Playhouse.

Blue Ridge Parkway

Appalachian Trail

U.S. Forest Service

Nantahala Outdoor Center

Roan Mountain

Fishing Opportunities

Little Switzerland Trout Farm

Loafers Glory Rafting and Tubing

Linville Falls

Linville Gorge

Linville Caverns

Grandfather Mountain

Orchard at Altapass

Sugar Plum Farms

Golf at Grassy Creek Golf & Country Club - Spruce Pine

Mountain Air Country Club

Parkway Playhouse

Heritage

In Mitchell County, we treasure the heritage of our people and our land. What you'll see in our mountain towns is real... real people preserving real stories. Visit special places such as Dellinger's Grist Mill, the Frankie and Charlie Silver gravesite and museum, and an historic apple orchard preserved on the Blue Ridge Parkway. You can also experience the exquisite craftsmanship of N.C. Folk Heritage Award Winner Bea Hensley at his blacksmith shop in Spruce Pine.

You'll hear real stories at the Overmountain Victory Celebration each September, which commemorates the 1780 Campaign to King's Mountain, South Carolina, when patriot militia tracked down and defeated the British at the Battle of Kings Mountain. Re-enactors camp, tell stories and demonstrate skills such as candle making and skillet tossing, giving you a true sense of the sacrifices and hardships of America's earliest patriots.

Dellinger's Grist Mill on Cane Creek (just east of Bakersville)

The Charlie and Frankie Silver museum and gravesite

Altapass Orchard

Overmountain Victory Trail - annual historical reenactment march in September

Bea Hensley, Blacksmith, Spruce Pine

The Quilt Trails of Mitchell and Yancey Counties

Mineral City Heritage Festival

Fire on the Mountain Blacksmith Festival

Where to Eat

From dressed up to dressed down, Mitchell County restaurants offer everything from casual dining fare, like burgers and barbeque, to something a little more special, maybe sushi or prime rib. Whatever you have a taste for, you'll find it here!

Spruce Pine:
City Drive-In
DT's Blue Ridge Java
El Ranchero Mexican Restaurant
Grassy Creek Golf & Country Club
Tokyo Japanese Restaurant
Western Sizzlin' Steakhouse
Richmond Inn
China Wok


Counter Service :
Burger King
Kentucky Fried Chicken & Taco Bell
McDonalds Restaurant
Pizza Hut
Subway


Bakersville:
Creekside Restaurant
Dot's Coffee and Tea Shoppe

Little Switzerland:
Big Lynn Lodge
Chalet Restaurant at the Switzerland Inn
Mountain View Restaurant

Along the way:

Crabtree Meadows - Snack Bar & Gift Shop, Blue Ridge Parkway, milepost 339
Skyline Village Inn & Cavern Tavern, Blue Ridge Parkway milepost 331

RELOCATING


If the mountains are calling you to relocate, in Mitchell County you're more than welcome! Our attraction is obvious: cool summer days, mountain air, breathtaking fall colors that spread across the mountains like a quilt and world-renowned artists as your neighbors. More and more folks are choosing the small towns in Mitchell County to put out their new doormat. Spruce Pine offers convenient shopping and amenities and an award winning hospital, while Little Switzerland and Bakersville are known for their quaint mountain village atmosphere and focus on the arts. Whatever area you choose, you'll find that Mitchell County feels like home.

 

101 THINGS TO DO IN MITCHELL COUNTY, NC


“What’s There to Do Around Here?”

You Say “Nothing”

We Say “COUNT THEM!”

  1. Watch trains go by in downtown Spruce Pine.

  2. Watch Jack grind corn at Dellinger’s Mill (a 130 year old mill, the state’s oldest working mill of its type) on Cane Creek in Bakersville.

  3. Hike Charlie Woody Mountain.

  4. Row the Toe – Canoe, kayak, or raft the Toe River.

  5. Play a round of golf.

  6. Go antique shopping in Bakersville and Spruce Pine.

  7. Visit the Home of the Perfect Christmas Tree Store in downtown Spruce Pine featuring handcrafted work of over 70 local and regional artists. (As seen on HGTV!)

  8. See a show and enjoy live music at the Carolina Theatre, the home of the original Carolina Barn Dance!

  9. Hear the hammering of the anvil at the Fire on the Mountain Blacksmith Festival each April! (Don’t miss the handcrafted sarvis berry tree by artist Elizabeth Brim)

  10. Visit River’s Edge Outfitters in Downtown Spruce Pine for a fly-tying lesson and some good ol’ fishing tales.

  11. Walk the historic bridge over the Toe River in Downtown Spruce Pine.

  12. See handmade crafts at the annual Creekwalk Arts Festival in Bakersville.

  13. Stay in a cabin at Bear Den Campground.

  14. Visit a local artist studio for a demonstration and shopping experience.

  15. Mine for real treasures with Rock Mine Tours.

  16. Have a home-cooked breakfast a Big Lynn Lodge (and see the site of the old Big Lynn tree).

  17. Be a part of history at the annual re-enactment at the Overmountain Victory Celebration in September at the Museum of NC Minerals.

  18. Visit Wal-Mart.

  19. Get a latte and a snack at DT’s Blue Ridge Java.

  20. Visit the EnergyXchange where trash is turned into treasure. Artist’s studios and a native plant greenhouse all operate from the gas of the landfill. Hwy 80N.

  21. Stop in at the Mitchell County Historical Society in Bakersville and learn about our past.

  22. Visit the Wednesday Farmer’s Market in Spruce Pine on the porch of Wildflowers for homemade jams, bread and fresh veggies.

  23. See an old-time general store at Pine Crossing Antiques.

  24. Visit a local produce stand for the season’s freshest picks.

  25. Mine and Shop at the Travel Channel’s pick, Gem Mountain Gemstone Mine.

  26. See sheep sheared and wool spun at Laurel Oaks Farm in Bakersville.

  27. Visit the world’s largest natural rhododendron garden – Roan Mountain.

  28. Walk the Appalachian Trail.

  29. Learn why Spruce Pine is the most important mining district in the world at the Museum of NC Minerals.

  30. Visit Celtic Spirit Resort in Spruce Pine for a relaxing massage.

  31. Get to know NC Living Treasure Arval Woody’s family, new owners at Woody’s Chair Shop. Ask them about the $10,000 Kennedy chairs Arval made.

  32. Hear iron sing at Bea Hensley’s iron works shop. (Ask him to tell you the story about Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson)

  33. Browse the area’s artistic works at the galleries in downtown Spruce Pine and Bakersville.

  34. Stop in at the Toe River Arts Council where you can see area art work on display or maybe catch a show.

  35. Visit the shops at Little Switzerland.

  36. Stretch your legs on the Bakersville Creekwalk.

  37. Find your own treasure at one of the many local gem mines.

  38. Check out the mining museum at Emerald Village.

  39. See a clock made at Luther Stroup’s Hobby Shop.

  40. Visit the Orchard at Altapass for a taste of a local apple (and enjoy a hayride, too).

  41. Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway.

  42. Raft, canoe, or ride horses at Springmaid Mountain.

  43. Hike to Crabtree Falls.

  44. Go rafting on the Nolichucky.

  45. Get Wet at the annual Springmaid Splash 10K and 5K Trail Races

  46. Get the season’s freshest at the Bakersville Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings.

  47. Be a Street Walker: Enjoy the shopping in downtown Spruce Pine, Bakersville & Little Switzerland.

  48. Visit the six Living Treasures in Mitchell County: Bea Hensley, Arval Woody, Harvey Littleton, Billie Ruth Sudduth, Cynthia Bringle & Norm Schulman.

  49. Tap your feet and dance the two step at Young’s Mountain Music.

  50. Fish Cane Creek, Pigeon Roost & Buladean.

  51. Visit the “Beauty Spot.”

  52. Enjoy the famous Friday Night Prime Rib and Seafood Buffet at The Chalet Restaurant in Little Switzerland.

  53. Go see Gouge’s Creek Falls.

  54. Take in a play at the Parkway Playhouse.

  55. Climb to the top of Mt. Mitchell.

  56. See jewels from all over the world at the NC Mineral and Gem Festival (August).

  57. Visit with a multi-generation mining family at Spruce Pine Gem & Gold.

  58. Enjoy solitude without the bother of television or phones at The Alpine Inn in Little Switzerland.

  59. Hear a tall tale at the Storytelling Festival in Spruce Pine (July).

  60. Celebrate our famous bloom at the NC Rhododendron Festival in Bakersville (June).

  61. Visit Sugar Plum Farm or Harrell Hill Tree Farms, for a tour and to pick out your Christmas tree for this year.

  62. Enjoy at wonderful lunch in a quaint tea room at Dot’s Coffee and Tea Shop in Bakersville.

  63. Visit Penland’s Gallery.

  64. See gems from around the world at Rio Doce Gem Mine.

  65. Tour an inn that was once a school (Pinebridge Inn.)

  66. Watch Brown Mountain Lights from Wiseman’s View.

  67. See the laser show in the mine at Emerald Village’s Day on the Rocks and Dynamite Days.

  68. Step back in time at Spruce Pine’s Cruise In and Car Show the 2nd and 4th Saturdays during the summer.

  69. Walk through 1200 colors of Daylilies at the Daylily Farms and Nursery on Hwy. 261 in Bakersville.

  70. Visit an organic nursery at Murdock Farm on Hwy. 80N. An artist studio and gallery are also at the Farm.

  71. Camp and roast marshmallows at Buck Hill Campground.

  72. Find that little something you always needed at Bakersville’s Annual Town Wide Yard Sale every July 4th week.

  73. See soap made at Blue Ridge Soap Shed on Hwy 226 in Spruce Pine.

  74. Check out the General Store at the Switzerland General store in Little Switzerland. (Have a slice of a great dessert next door at the Switzerland Café).

  75. Check out the unique M.R. Knot boxes and “Windows in Pine” at Melawil’s Gallery in downtown Spruce Pine.

  76. Visit the local airfield and take a tour (maybe even get an aerial view of the area!)

  77. Have a weekend getaway at home by renting one of the local cabins.

  78. Tour the Old English Inn in Spruce Pine, which housed soldiers in the American Revolution.

  79. See apple butter made and maybe even milk a cow at the Annual Mineral City Heritage Festival in Downtown Spruce Pine.

  80. Visit nearly one hundred artists’ studios during the Spring and Holiday Studio Tours.

  81. Park your camper or tent at the Spruce Pine Campground. Enjoy getting away while staying close to home.

  82. Enjoy a meal just like the good ole’ days at the City Drive In!! Park your car and enjoy a lunch of cheeseburgers and milkshakes with your family.

  83. Inspect artifacts of the Native Americans as well as rocks and minerals at the newly opened Rocks and Things on Upper Street in Spruce Pine.

  84. Tall tales will be spun when you fish the Toe River and Cane Creek, designated as Mountain Heritage Trout Cities. You can even borrow a free rod and tackle!

  85. See inside a mountain at Linville Caverns.

  86. Catch some of the finest trout in Loafer’s Glory.

  87. Browse through a treasure trove of unique gifts at Dellinger’s Christian Bookstore.

  88. Drive over to Mayland Community College to check out one of their entertaining shows, or new exhibit.

  89. Go cross country skiing on the trails of Roan Mountain during the winter months.

  90. Grab a picnic lunch at an area restaurant and head over the Brad Ragan Park.

  91. Stay in a local cottage or cabin like the Chinquapin Inn at Penland, a 1937 mountain house.

  92. Visit the Blue Ridge Gemstone Mine in Little Switzerland.

  93. Drive down Halltown Road to see the impressive antique collection of Calvin Hall.

  94. Howl at the moon at the Wolf Sanctuary on Cane Creek.

  95. Swing your partner at the Summer Square Dances at Geneva Hall in Little Switzerland.

  96. Visit the Richmond Inn, a half-century year old Inn in downtown Spruce Pine.

  97. Enjoy the walking path or have a picnic at Spruce Pine’s Riverside Park.

  98. Visit Mountain Farm’s annual Lavender Festival in July where you can see soap making demonstrations, make your own gifts to take home and much more!

  99. Visit the original Penland Post Office (circa 1879.)    

  100.  Visit our neighbor, Grandfather Mountain, to see the bears (did you know Grandfather Mountain was once in Mitchell County?)

*101. Take a drive through the county and enjoy the natural beauty of the area.


*OK. There’s more than 100 things to do, but we ran out of room!

Call us to add your favorite activity to the list.


Tourism brings almost $18 million dollars into Mitchell County each year and provides over 200 jobs. As the tourism season begins, welcome our visitors and guests, and share our beautiful area with them. You now have a list of 100 things to encourage them to see and do in our area. You can never say “nothing” again.
Fireside Real Estate, Inc., P.O. Box 542, Spruce Pine, NC 28777
Phone: 828-765-4660
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