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Banner Elk is a friendly resort town between the Beech Mountain and Sugar Mountain ski areas (our top North Carolina Ski Town). It's home to outdoor adventure, an elevated culinary scene, and the first alpine coaster in North Carolina, Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster. Nearby is Grandfather Mountain and the popular Mile High Swinging Bridge.
While the town is only home to about 1,000 residents, it's a hub for the area and offers a nice selection of shopping and an impressive line-up of great restaurants within a few blocks of the town clock tower.
Visit Banner Elk's website to learn more about this small mountain town.
Banner Elk 2025 Art on the Greene
May 24-25, July 5-6, Aug. 2-3 & Aug. 30-31, 2025, 10 AM-5 PM
Art on the Greene transforms the grounds of the Historic Banner Elk School into an art gallery multiple times each summer. These popular shows take place Memorial Day weekend, Fourth of July weekend, the first weekend in August and Labor Day weekend. Discover talented artists working in metal, glass, clay, wood, and enjoy food vendors and entertainment. Admission is free.
Woolly Worm Festival
October 18-19, 2025
Banner Elk's biggest event of the year celebrates the coming of the snow season with a Woolly Worm Festival on the third weekend of October. A contest determines which one worm will have the honor of predicting the severity of the coming winter. Enjoy a big selection of arts and crafts, food and live music. Read more.
Banner House Museum
Experience 19th-century life in the North Carolina mountains at the home of Samuel Henry Banner, one of Banner Elk's original settlers. Take daily guided tours mid-June through mid-October by volunteers.
Note: Check their site for operating hours post Hurricane Helene.
Wineries
- Banner Elk Winery (photo above) is the most celebrated winery in the region, growing new French-American and American varieties of grapes. Banner Elk wines pay tribute to the rugged mountain landscape and capture the delicate nuance and subtle flavors. Stop in for a tasting year-round from noon until 6 PM seven days a week. They also offer private tours and tastings with advance scheduling of at least one week. Located at 60 Deer Run Lane.
- Grandfather Vineyard & Winery is located on a mountainside at the base of Grandfather Mountain on the Watauga River. During a tasting, sample a variety of dry white and red wines. From Banner Elk take 184 south to 105 east toward Boone approximately four miles on your right.
Breweries
- Kettell Beerworks has about a dozen beers on tap. Their year-round brews include a pale ale, IPA, Kolsch and black-rye IPA. Seasonal beers and experimental small batches, as well as stouts, porters, saisons, hefeweizens and brown ales. Located at 567 Main Street East, Banner Elk.
- Beech Mountain Brewing Company is open during ski season and the summer months for bikers and hikers. They brew small batches in the Alpine Village. Their flagship beer is the 5,506’ Pale Ale, named after Beech Mountain’s elevation. Located at 1007 Beech Mountain Pkwy, Beech Mountain.
Greenway & Self-Guided Walking Tour
A fun way to explore Banner Elk is via the one-mile greenway that begins near Flat Top Brewing Company and goes through Tate-Evans Park and past the Mill Pond on the campus of Lees-McRae College. To experience the town’s history, take the Downtown Banner Elk Walking Tour. This 1.5-mile self-guided tour uses a free downloadable app to showcase two dozen points of interest and iconic buildings. As you move about, the GPS-enabled app adjusts to your position and provides an overview of the nearest tour location, allowing participants to skip ahead if they so desire.
Lees-McRae College
Named for two women who founded it in 1907, Lees-McRae College is home to 700 undergrads. Visitors are welcome to explore the beautiful campus with historic buildings crafted with native stone. At the May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center (367 Mill Pond Road, 828-898-2568), learn about the area's wildlife with tours on Saturdays at 1 PM (plus Thursdays and Fridays in the summer). Or, stop by anytime to check out their rescued birds outside. It's a great place for performing arts with the Lees-McRae Summer Theatre, weekly summer FORUM series and other annual performances and concerts.
Cultural Arts Center
The Cultural Arts Center at the Historic Banner Elk School was built in 1939. Go to professional theater productions by Ensemble Stage. Art on the Greene is held on the front lawn on summer holiday weekends: Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day. The school is also home to a hidden gem for lovers of arts and crafts: the BE Artists Gallery, a co-op gallery featuring the work of 40 area artists.
Winter Fun
Adjacent to the two biggest ski areas in North Carolina, Banner Elk is the perfect winter base camp for skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, tubing, and more. Read more.
Location
The scenic Blue Ridge Parkway is 12 miles from Banner Elk, near Linn Cove Viaduct and Grandfather Mountain. Banner Elk is about 75 miles north of Asheville.
See more of our Coolest NC Mountain Small Towns.
Places to Stay & Things to Do
Banner Elk Lodging
At a cool elevation of 3,701 feet in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Banner Elk offers a variety of vacation rentals, log cabins, condos, mountaintop homes and hotels. Near Grandfather Mountain,… read more
At a cool elevation of 3,701 feet in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Banner Elk offers a variety of vacation rentals, log cabins, condos, mountaintop homes and hotels. Near Grandfather Mountain, Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster, two ski resorts and endless outdoor adventures.
Apple Hill Alpaca Farm
Take a guided walking tour of this farm near Banner Elk with the alpacas, llamas, angora goats, guardian donkeys, dogs and other animals. Fiber from the angora goats is made into mohair and sold… read more
Take a guided walking tour of this farm near Banner Elk with the alpacas, llamas, angora goats, guardian donkeys, dogs and other animals. Fiber from the angora goats is made into mohair and sold in the farm store, along with alpaca socks. Open year-round.
Wildcat Lake
This popular summer swimming hole in Banner Elk includes a white sandy beach, swimming pier and fishing dock. The adjacent Tufts Memorial Park has a bath house and picnic tables. Owned by the… read more
This popular summer swimming hole in Banner Elk includes a white sandy beach, swimming pier and fishing dock. The adjacent Tufts Memorial Park has a bath house and picnic tables. Owned by the Grandfather Home for Children. No admission fee, but they appreciate donations.
Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster
Take the exhilarating ride on the only Alpine coaster in the North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains, located in Banner Elk.
Take the exhilarating ride on the only Alpine coaster in the North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains, located in Banner Elk.
Elk River Falls
Located near Beech Mountain and Banner Elk is a 50-ft. waterfall that cascades over a rock cliff into a picturesque oval pool. Just below the pool is a popular summer spot for swimming and sunning… read more
Located near Beech Mountain and Banner Elk is a 50-ft. waterfall that cascades over a rock cliff into a picturesque oval pool. Just below the pool is a popular summer spot for swimming and sunning on the rocks. Formerly called Big Falls, it's in Pisgah National Forest and reached via a short walk.
Banner Elk Ski Town
The cool small town high in the Blue Ridge Mountains is basecamp for winter fun on the slopes, adjacent to two of the largest ski resorts in the South - Sugar & Beech Mountains. Near Hawksnest… read more
The cool small town high in the Blue Ridge Mountains is basecamp for winter fun on the slopes, adjacent to two of the largest ski resorts in the South - Sugar & Beech Mountains. Near Hawksnest Tubing. Restaurants, breweries and places to stay.
19 Outdoor Adventures in Banner Elk
The resort town of Banner Elk is the center of outdoor adventure in the NC High Country. Feel the thrill of an alpine coaster, dangle in the air at an adventure course, hike the profile trail at… read more
The resort town of Banner Elk is the center of outdoor adventure in the NC High Country. Feel the thrill of an alpine coaster, dangle in the air at an adventure course, hike the profile trail at Grandfather Mountain, or enjoy mountain biking, UTV tours, whitewater rafting, and ziplining.
Ensemble Stage, Banner Elk
Enjoy professional theater in the mountains with Ensemble Stage, a theater troupe known for high-quality performances and a year-round schedule. Ensemble Stage’s intimate 99-seat theater provides… read more
Enjoy professional theater in the mountains with Ensemble Stage, a theater troupe known for high-quality performances and a year-round schedule. Ensemble Stage’s intimate 99-seat theater provides every attendee with a great vantage point for a variety of plays, including comedies, dramas and thrillers. Staged radio shows and a Christmas musical revue are popular offerings each year.
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Grandfather Mountain
Don’t miss the views that can be seen from Grandfather Mountain, which at 5,946 ft’ is one of the highest peaks in the Blue Ridge Mountain range. Grandfather Mountain State Park encompasses 2,456-… read more
Don’t miss the views that can be seen from Grandfather Mountain, which at 5,946 ft’ is one of the highest peaks in the Blue Ridge Mountain range. Grandfather Mountain State Park encompasses 2,456-acres of wilderness to explore. If you are staying in Asheville, 70 miles from Asheville, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Banner Elk Restaurants
This small town high in the mountains has become a culinary hot spot. Whether you’re looking for an upscale meal for a special occasion, a hearty sandwich after a day outdoors, or a casual steak… read more
This small town high in the mountains has become a culinary hot spot. Whether you’re looking for an upscale meal for a special occasion, a hearty sandwich after a day outdoors, or a casual steak dinner, check out their locally-owned and innovative restaurants.
Banner Elk Wineries & Breweries
The resort town of Banner Elk offers a nice selection of area wineries, including Banner Elk Winery, Grandfather Vineyard & Winery and Linville Falls Winery. You can also visit two craft… read more
The resort town of Banner Elk offers a nice selection of area wineries, including Banner Elk Winery, Grandfather Vineyard & Winery and Linville Falls Winery. You can also visit two craft breweries – Kettell Beerworks and Beech Mountain Brewing – as well as the indoor/outdoor Blind Elk Tap Room. These tasting rooms are connected by scenic drives high in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Original Mast General Store
See the original location of the historic Mast General Store near Banner Elk in small picturesque community of Valle Crucis. Take a photo tour.
See the original location of the historic Mast General Store near Banner Elk in small picturesque community of Valle Crucis. Take a photo tour.
Top Festivals
Woolly Worm Festival
Celebrate the coming of the snow season with woolly worm races, live entertainment and lots of food and craft vendors in downtown Banner Elk during peak fall color. Highly popular!
Celebrate the coming of the snow season with woolly worm races, live entertainment and lots of food and craft vendors in downtown Banner Elk during peak fall color. Highly popular!
Art on the Greene
Find a big variety of 40 artists working with metal, glass, pottery, wood, jewelry, and more in downtown Banner Elk. Many restaurants, shops, and things to do nearby. Benefits their historic… read more
Find a big variety of 40 artists working with metal, glass, pottery, wood, jewelry, and more in downtown Banner Elk. Many restaurants, shops, and things to do nearby. Benefits their historic school renovation. 10 AM-5 PM. Free admission.
Art on the Greene
Find a big variety of 40 artists working with metal, glass, pottery, wood, jewelry and more in downtown Banner Elk. Many restaurants, shops and things to do nearby. 10 AM-5 PM. Free admission.
Find a big variety of 40 artists working with metal, glass, pottery, wood, jewelry and more in downtown Banner Elk. Many restaurants, shops and things to do nearby. 10 AM-5 PM. Free admission.
Grandfather Mountain Highland Games
One of the biggest Scottish Games in the United States, with plenty of live music (bagpipes to rock), athletic competitions, dancing, food, heritage vendors, and more.
One of the biggest Scottish Games in the United States, with plenty of live music (bagpipes to rock), athletic competitions, dancing, food, heritage vendors, and more.
Art on the Greene
Buy art and support the restoration of the historic school in Banner Elk. Find a big variety of artists working with metal, glass, pottery, wood, jewelry, and more. Many other things to do nearby… read more
Buy art and support the restoration of the historic school in Banner Elk. Find a big variety of artists working with metal, glass, pottery, wood, jewelry, and more. Many other things to do nearby. 10 AM-5 PM. Free admission.
Small Town Christmas, Banner Elk
Many events during this weekend in our top ski town of Banner Elk. Tree lighting and variety show on Friday evening. Saturday highlights include a 5k, Alpaca Farm tours, holiday market, and more.… read more
Many events during this weekend in our top ski town of Banner Elk. Tree lighting and variety show on Friday evening. Saturday highlights include a 5k, Alpaca Farm tours, holiday market, and more. In the evening, Tate-Evans Park has train rides, luminaries, and light shows. Take home a Christmas Tree from a farm.
